Council considering former Taylor Field site as temporary parking lot

The City of Regina has its long-term plans set for the old Taylor Field site, but it’s trying to decide what to do with the location in the meantime.

In a notice of enquiry submitted for Monday night’s council meeting, Coun. Jerry Flegel proposed using the site for temporary overflow parking for events like Saskatchewan Roughriders games, the Farm Progress Show or Canadian Western Agribition.

All of those events are held at Evraz Place, which is just down the street from the former Taylor Field site.

Flegel’s enquiry says the city could use the proposed lot as a “cost recovery/revenue mechanism” as well.

“This would be a temporary use until we actually develop that site,” Mayor Michael Fougere said during The Greg Morgan Morning Show on Tuesday.

The former site of Taylor Field is the subject of the third phase in a revitalization project called the Regina Revitalization Initiative.

It would include building 700 housing units along with some commercial and retail development on the site.

Fougere said it’s not clear how long it will take to make that a reality.

“It’s hard to say. It’s private sector-driven so we hope it will be the next few years,” he said. “But until that happens, what can we do to animate the property?”

The first phase of RRI was the construction and opening of Mosaic Stadium, which was completed in 2017.

The second phase is the Railyard Renewal Project, which would include improving the walkability of Dewdney Avenue and developing public spaces. The project received $33.6 million from the province in November.