Proposed Regina road sparks concerns over wetlands and wildlife

Regina wants to extend Wascana Parkway to relieve southeast congestion, but the plan hinges on valuable land. Damian Smith reports.

Conservation groups say McKell Wascana Conservation Park is an important natural space worth protecting, as the City of Regina considers a possible road extension that would cut through the area.

The 171-acre park, located on the city’s southeast side, is owned by Ducks Unlimited and features wetlands, native prairie, an amphitheatre, a creek dipping dock and five walking trails.

Michael Champion, Ducks Unlimited’s regional manager of industry and government relations, says the park plays a key role in preserving native prairie and supporting biodiversity.

“It is one of the most important landscapes for annual crop production, and that has put native prairie at risk,” Champion said. “Having it here in Regina helps balance development with the province’s natural and agricultural history.”

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

The proposed extension would link Wascana Parkway to Prince of Wales Drive, creating a new route between the south and southeast ends of the city. Champion says routing the road through the park could threaten wetlands and wildlife habitat.

“You have thousands, if not millions, of species that rely on these ecosystems,” he said. “Insects feed birds, birds feed mammals — wetlands are the workhorse of Canada’s biodiversity.”

In a statement to CTV News, the City of Regina said the proposed road is part of a long-term plan to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on major routes such as Arcola Avenue. The city noted the corridor has been identified in transportation planning since the 1980s and was reaffirmed in the 2022 Arcola Avenue Corridor Study.

The city says no final decisions have been made and that discussions with impacted stakeholders are still required. The project would only move forward to detailed design or construction if it is deemed feasible and receives future city council funding.

Ducks Unlimited says preserving the park should be the priority and would prefer any road alignment be routed south of the wetlands.

“Biodiversity supports clean air, clean water and removes pollutants,” Champion said. “A road through this area could impact creek flows and wildlife movement, and reduce opportunities for people to experience nature in the city.”