Ducks Unlimited manager concerned about park he helped build as Regina studies road extension

Ducks Unlimited Canada is sharing concerns about the proposed extension of Prince of Wales Drive in southeast Regina.

The Wascana View Action Group has asked the city to halt a study of an extension that would connect Prince of Wales Drive to Wascana Parkway, citing traffic concerns as well as its impact on the McKell Wascana Conservation Park.

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The park, which occupies a protected easement on the city’s outskirts, was created in the mid-2000s by a partnership between the landowners, Ducks Unlimited and the City of Regina.

Michael Champion, a Regina-based manager with Ducks Unlimited, was involved in the park’s planning and construction. He said it might be possible to build a road outside the park’s western edge, but that could still have a negative impact on the natural area.

“We will have to do something with the water, so there will be impact on the hydrology,” Champion said, though he noted that he expects a study by the city will take that impact and mitigation into account.

Champion said he’s also concerned about how the extension would impact migratory patterns, and noted it could lead to a loss of plant species.

“It might be detrimental to some wildlife. Lots of the wildlife will be able to adapt and be able to figure it out,” Champion said. “But there will be some that will either just no longer use the park – they’ll go and find someplace else – or they’ll be impacted in other ways trying to cross the road.”

He said the old Fleet Street Bridge is well outside the easement, and could be a suitable way for Prince of Wales to cross the creek. He said a connection to the bypass is another option.

“I understand the troubles with Arcola (Avenue),” Champion, a southeast Regina resident, said. “In the rush-hour portion of the day, Arcola can be quite daunting to drive on.

“My question is, are we looking at all solutions, or are we just looking at a plan that’s been on the books for 30 years? A lot has changed since then. A lot has changed in the last 15 years in the area.”

Mayor Chad Bachynski said nothing has been decided yet regarding the roadway extension, and the routes are currently being studied.