Kildonan Park

Kildonan Park is a park in north Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Kildonan Park
LocationWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Coordinates49°56′37″N 97°06′10″W
Area96 acres (39 ha)
Established1909 (1909)
DesignerGeorge Champion
Owned byCity of Winnipeg
Public transit access18 North Main-Corydon
32 North Main Express
38 Salter
77 Crosstown North
Volleyball at Kildonan Park

Established in 1909 as a 73 acre (29.6 hectare) park,[1] it features the Peguis Pavilion, Rainbow Stage, the Witch's Hut, an Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool, duck pond, and soccer field as well as picnic tables and barbecue pits.[2][3] The Park was originally designed by George Champion who was the park's Superintendent.[4] There are picnic sites and shelters available for rent.[3] In winter the park features a skating pond and two tobogganing slides. [2]

Kildonan Park features 39 hectares (390,000 m2) of park area, 25 hectares (250,000 m2) of mowable turf and 27,000 square metres (2.7 ha) of pathways,[3] including a perimeter path measuring 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi).[2]

History

Kildonan Park was established in 1909.[1]

In 2013–14 landscape architectural firm Scatliff + Miller + Murray were commissioned to come up with a new vision for Kildonan Park. SMM's report, the Kildonan Park Master Plan, was published in January 2015. The report identified several issues, that, when implemented would improve the functioning and enjoyment of the park. Originally design plans from the park's inception in 1909 called for a boat launch area/marina. However this has never been implemented as further study regarding riverbank erosion must take place first. The report recommends that Lord Selkirk Creek be restored to its pre-dammed state as much as is possible. Input during the public feedback stage for the Master Plan indicated a poor wayfinding system, especially for pedestrians. Rainbow Stage has an opportunity to have extended use beyond the seven weeks where live performance theatre events take place. It was suggested in the report that a farmer's market, car show, extending the operating weeks of Rainbow Stage with additional live theatre events, as well as displays of "seasonal art". [4]

Features

Rainbow Stage
Main article: Rainbow Stage
Rainbow Stage

Rainbow Stage is Canada's longest-surviving outdoor theatre.[5] The covered, open-air theatre seats 2,600 people.[6]

Outdoor pool and splash pad

Kildonan Pool is a 50 m × 23 m (165 ft × 75 ft) outdoor Olympic-size pool, completed in May 1966,[7] opened on July 20, 1966.[8] After a C$3 million upgrade, a splash pad, water slide, and a beach-style shallow end were added in August 2010.[9]

During the preparation for the 1967 Pan Am Games, one of scenarios for a facility for the swimming and diving events was to build two outdoor pools — one within Assiniboine Park, the other at Kildonan Park. Instead, at the urging of Metro Coun. Jack Willis, an indoor pool, Pan Am, was built instead.

Peguis Pavilion

A few years after Kildonan Park opened, the first pavilion was opened in 1915 and cost C$13,000 to construct. It was demolished in 1964 to make way for the second pavilion.[10]

Designed by architectural firm Blankstein Coop Gillmor and Hanna (now Number Ten), the Peguis Pavilion (originally called the Kildonan Park Pavilion) building was built in the 1960s and officially opened in 1966[10] with a budget of $125,000. It is near Lord Selkirk Creek, which was dammed. The architectural firm chosen for the Pavilion project was Blankstein Coop Gilmor Hanna.[11][12]

In 2012, the pavilion underwent $2 million in renovations, including new heating and air conditioning, public washrooms on the main floor and basement, a new family washroom, a new elevator, refurbished kitchen and restaurant — Prairie's Edge Restaurant, and a new roof. In spring 2013, landscaping around the pavilion was completed, including pond renovations.[12]

Witch's Hut
Witch's Hut

The Witch's Hut is a small building designed to illustrate the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Hansel and Gretel.[13]

Dedicated and opened in October 1970, the Witch's Hut was a Centennial Project of the German Community of Manitoba and a gift to the children of the Province. Also known as das Hexenhaus, the hut was designed by Manitoba architect Hans Peter Langes.[14][13] The hut contains relief terracotta panels depicting the fairy tale in sequential scenes, along with full scale images of Hansel, Gretel and the witch.[14]

Public Art

Bokeh, an artwork created by Takashi Iwasaki and Nadi Design was installed around the duck pond in 2018. Bokeh lights the skating area in the dark of winter.. Bokeh is a Japanese word for blurriness.[15]

References
  1. "Opposition To Art Gallery". The Winnipeg Tribune. November 9, 1909. p. 14.
  2. "Kildonan Park". City of Winnipeg. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  3. "Kildonan Park". City of Winnipeg. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  4. "Kildonan Park Master Plan" (PDF). winnipeg.ca. Scatliff + Miller + Murray Inc. January 21, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  5. "AboutUs". Rainbow Stage. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  6. "Venues". City of Winnipeg. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  7. "Kildonan Pool For Pan-Am?". Winnipeg Free Press. May 26, 1966. p. 44.
  8. "New Pool To Open July 20". Winnipeg Free Press. July 11, 1966. p. 9.
  9. Vesely, Carolyn; Mayes, Alison (August 12, 2010). "Do the monster splash at Kildonan Park". Winnipeg Free Press.
  10. "The pavilions of Kildonan". Winnipeg Free Press - New Leisure. April 18, 1970. p. 2.
  11. "Pavilion Plans Endorsed". Winnipeg Free Press. February 19, 1964. p. 3.
  12. Parsons, Lauren (2 August 2012). "Winnipeg's Kildonan Park pavilion getting $2M facelift". Metro News. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  13. "Kildonan Park: Witch's Hut". City of Winnipeg. May 30, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  14. "The History of the Witch's Hut / das Hexenhaus". German-Canadian Congress Manitoba. June 2008. Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  15. "Bookeh". Winnipeg Arts Council. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
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