Hi there! I'm starting a new thread dedicated entirely to general discussions that relate to green space in Winnipeg. I always felt that this whole topic really deserves an entirely separate thread for itself, especially in the light of recent events such as the whole Parker Lands fiasco.
But before we start, I think it would help to clarify exactly we mean by "green space." What is meant by the term can be very broad, and it's meaning isn't limited solely to public parks. Basically, Green Space refers to any kind of urban space that is both relatively undeveloped and nature oriented in it's land use. Generally meant for recreational purposes or just simply to add some extra enjoyment into the lives of city dwellers. Yes, the most obvious example of this is public parks, but green space could also refer to street trees, waterways, undeveloped natural areas, golf courses and even your own backyard! Yes, that's right, there is actually such a thing as private green space. All of these are valid discussions for this forum. If it has something to do with nature, chances are you've come to the right place.
This thread should be able to cover several highly relevant topics, including:
1. Winnipeg's Urban Forest.
-Discussions about our substantial population of elm trees.
-Dutch Elm Disease and the severe threat it's posing to Winnipeg's canopy.
-Tree planting, tree removal, & future plans regarding any projects related to these.
-The cities arboreal budget, and discussions regarding the use of that money.
-Thoughts and opinions on the importance of our urban forest relative to other major infrastructure issues the city's facing
2. Riverbank Land
-Updates on new waterfront developments happening, such as the urban renewal occurring on Waterfront Drive & in Point Douglas.
-Usage of the river, including talks about the waterbus, the river walk, parks, trails, private property, and recreational activity along the corridors.
-Riverbank erosion
-Environmental issues regarding our rivers, including talks about our wastewater infrastructure, farmland runoff, and possibly even broader issues regarding the threat to lake Winnipeg.
-The dreaded F word. You all know what it is.
-And last but not least, anything related to the minor waterways in our city that we sometimes forget about, including the seine river, and many of our creeks such as Omands, Truro, Sturgeon, Selkirks and Bunns. In general, simply anything that has to do with our utilizing any type of waterway for recreational purposes. (EDIT: I can't believe I forgot about the La Salle river! Apologies to St. Norbert)
3. Winnipeg's major & minor Public Parks.
-Assiniboine Park, Kildonan Park, The Forks, St. Vital Park, and so on.
-Major new projects happening inside them.
-Creation of brand new parks, or the selling off of public green space for things such as high density developments, which we will run into more often as we try to address revitalizing our inner urban core.
-Discussions about landscape architecture, and what additional things we could possibly do with our park spaces.
Or maybe, you just wanna stop by and post a picture of your favorite piece of Winnipeg's greenery. Either way, I hope this thread catches on. Take it away guys.