VIDEO: Regina downtown vacant lot transformed into free summer activity space

A vacant lot in the heart of downtown Regina has been transformed into a free place to play, relax and connect.

The Courts at The Skuare officially open Saturday at the northeast corner of 12th Avenue and Cornwall Street, across from Victoria Park. Its opening coincides with I Love Regina Day.

Read more:

• Ottawa infuses $920K to revive the former Gordon Block site
• Investigators to watch as burned heritage building torn down in Regina
• Downtown Regina heritage building will be levelled despite objections from advocates

The 6,060-square-foot activity area features bocce, giant chess, cornhole, ladder ball, giant Connect Four, Jenga and Guess Who, along with casual seating. The Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID) developed the free drop-in space.

The Courts at The Skuare occupies a formerly vacant lot across from Victoria Park in downtown Regina. The free public activity space opens Aug. 22, 2026. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)

“This is just the beginning of what this space can become,” RDBID executive director Judith Veresuk said Friday. “The Courts at The Skuare gives everyone an inviting place to gather this summer, and we can’t wait to see how the community makes it their own.”

The Courts are the first phase of The Skuare, a planned three-season gathering and entertainment venue on the former Gordon Block and Burns Hanley properties.

Plans for the final development include retail and food and beverage spaces, an outdoor stage for performances and community events, room for food trucks and opportunities for entrepreneurs to test new business ideas.

Veresuk said the project’s design had to be reconsidered after another building on the site was demolished earlier this year, increasing the available land by roughly 25 per cent.

“Once we knew that we wanted to do a little bit of a redesign, then we knew that would push the full development into 2027, and we didn’t want this to be vacant for the rest of the year,” she said.

Instead of leaving the property empty, RDBID created a temporary activity area using modular structures that can be removed, stored and potentially returned once construction is complete.

“We want to make sure that people who were really tired of seeing a dusty lot for the last three or four years have something to enjoy and participate in and feel a part of their community,” Veresuk said.

The temporary activation cost between $50,000 and $60,000, according to Veresuk. She said much of that money paid for site work that would have been required for the permanent development, including grading and milling.

The overall budget for The Skuare is approximately $1.5 million.

The project is supported by $920,000 from Prairies Economic Development Canada, $250,000 from the City of Regina’s Downtown Vibrancy Fund and $160,000 from Harvard Developments. RDBID is also contributing to the project.

Mayor Chad Bachynski said the temporary space demonstrates what can be done with vacant and underused properties while long-term developments are being planned.

“I think it’s clear that there are a lot of partners that are coming to the table to show we can take any space and create something that people can enjoy downtown,” Bachynski said.

He said gathering spaces can create energy downtown, support nearby businesses and give people more reasons to spend time in the city centre.

“Whether you’re challenging a friend to a game of bocce ball, chess, cornhole or simply taking a break from work and enjoying the atmosphere, this is a welcoming space that belongs to everyone,” Bachynski said.

The site is designed to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Ramps have also been added to the wooden decking throughout the space.

Kenric Exner, vice-president of corporate services for Harvard Developments, speaks at the opening of The Courts at The Skuare. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)

Kenrick Exner, vice-president of corporate services for Harvard Developments, said individual projects may not revitalize downtown on their own, but they can contribute to broader momentum.

“This site has the potential to be so much more than a physical space,” Exner said. “It can be a place that brings people together, creates new experiences and helps the community imagine what a downtown can become.”

RDBID board chair Aaron Burnett said the property is an example of how temporary projects can bring activity to underused land instead of waiting for permanent construction.

Regina Downtown Business Improvement District board chair Aaron Burnett discusses the organization’s vision for The Skuare. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)

“It fills a gap in our downtown, trying to turn underused sites into something that the public can enjoy, as opposed to vacant lots that have become a punchline,” Burnett said.

The Courts at The Skuare will be open Tuesday through Saturday from Aug. 25 until Oct. 10, with operating hours extending outside the traditional workday. Saturday programming will coincide with the Regina Farmers’ Market.

Cinema Under the Stars will also return after a multi-year hiatus, with a screening of The Princess Bride scheduled for Aug. 26.

Veresuk said public use and feedback collected during the pilot phase will help RDBID determine the final layout. Organizers will also assess how conditions such as wind and sunlight affect the site.

After The Courts close in October, underground electrical and water work could begin during the winter. RDBID expects paving and other construction to follow in the spring, with the completed three-season venue targeted to open in 2027.

“We’re doing this for the community,” Veresuk said. “We want to make sure people have something to enjoy and feel a part of their community.”