A dry storm pond at Churchill District Park in Saskatoon, which will hold flood water and serve as a sports field whenever dry, is substantially complete. It is the second dry storm pond to be built under the City of Saskatoon’s Flood Control Strategy and it means that during intense summer rainfalls the risk of flooding is lowered substantially for more than 50 properties in the area.

The Churchill Park dry storm pond took approximately nine months to build. It will reduce summer flood concerns around Ruth Street and Cairns Avenue, Bute Street and Munroe Avenue, Ruth Street and York Avenue, and Bute Street and Albert Avenue.The first dry storm pond opened in W.W. Ashley District Park in October and proved its worth in an intense rain storm earlier this year on June 20th.

The Director of Saskatoon Water, Russ Munro says in regards to the Churchill District Park that the site will remain fenced off until fall 2023 to give the newly installed sod and trees time to establish. There will be new trees, a new pathway, new multi-use sports fields, and spectator seating built into the slopes.

Dry storm ponds are designed to hold water that would otherwise cause flooding during intense rainfalls. The water flows from nearby properties and roads into the dry storm pond before it slowly drains into the storm sewer and to the South Saskatchewan River. After the third storm pond is built in Weaver Park in the Queen Elizabeth neighbourhood, six more will be dug between 2024 and 2027.