River Landing's west promenade opens to public
By David Hutton, TheStarPhoenix.com
August 21, 2009 4:02 PM
SASKATOON — The west riverbank promenade at River Landing, connecting the area under the Idylwyld Bridge to Victoria Park, was unveiled Friday amid forecasts the waterfront oasis will help bridge the city’s east-west divide.
Politicians from all three levels of government celebrated the opening by walking through a fake brick wall at the east end of the site.
“I still remember (U.S. President Ronald Reagan) in Berlin, looking at East and West Berlin, and saying (President Mikhail Gorbachev) tear down this wall,” said Mayor Don Atchison. “We want people to be united once again. . . In fact, here in Saskatoon we have people on east and west sides. . . . and what we have today is the joining together again of the downtown Saskatoon and Riversdale that we seemed to have lost for so many years.
“For people who have walked the trails and jogged the trails for so long, wondering when will this side be open again, well, today is the day.”
The $18-million promenade, which includes a pedestrian bridge and walkways, a boat dock, and river-viewing areas, was completed at more than $2-million over budget and one-year behind schedule because of weather and regulatory issues, Atchison said.
Despite recent cost increases, the entire River Landing project is expected to net a surplus of $2.4-million once land is sold in the area and funding from all levels of government is accounted for, Atchison said.
The promenade is a major component of the expected decade-long $52-million renaissance of the brownfield between the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge and Avenue C, dubbed River Landing Phase 2.
Forming the backdrop to the riverfront opening, the former A.L. Cole pumphouse was abuzz, as public tours were given showing concept drawings of the site.
There have been “five or six” interested restauranteurs who contacted the city about the pumphouse location, said Sandi Schultz, the city’s special projects manager. While a restaurant is the most logical choice, the eventual tenant will depend on what types of proposals come from the private sector when tenders go out, likely next summer, she said.
“We have the highest hopes that the pumphouse will be the focal point . . . of perhaps all of the riverfront at River Landing,” said Lloyd Isaak, manager of design and development with the Meewasin Valley Authority, on a tour of the site.
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