A.E. Wilson Park Soil Testing

Updated December 2024 

Construction of the Southwest Sewer System Upgrade Project started in A.E. Wilson Park this past summer, with the installation of a large sewer line between the McCarthy Boulevard Pump Station and Rick Hansen Optimist Playground.   

The sewer line ran through land where the City’s old Wastewater Treatment Plant and garbage incinerator used to be and encountered environmentally impacted soil. Environmental testing completed prior to the start of the project was used to prepare a Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment approved plan for the management of impacted soils along the sewer line. The plan involved placing clean soil in the top layer of the construction trench. Follow up sampling was conducted in November and results will be reported to the Ministry of Environment.  

Construction next to the McCarthy Boulevard Pump Station is expected to be completed in February 2025. Final surface restoration and landscaping will happen in spring/summer of 2025. Once landscaping and surface restoration is complete, the area directly affected by the sewer line project will be safe for residents and pets.  

The next stage of the Southwest Sewer System Upgrade Project is expected to start in 2025, at the south end of A.E. Wilson Park. This next phase will pick up where the 2024 project left off by crossing Wascana Creek and continuing south past Dewdney Avenue. More information about the next stage of the project can be found by going to regina.ca/southwest 

A follow-up soil sampling program based on recommendations from the initial site investigations, is being prepared for 2025 in Area 2 North (Figure 1) after construction on the north side of A.E. Wilson Park is complete. 

Fences will remain in place to protect the public after the construction project is complete until further environmental investigations show specific areas are safe or remediation is completed.  

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact Service Regina at 306-777-7000 and note A.E. Wilson Park environmental conditions.  

Updated on December 2023

In April, the City advised homeowners about soil testing that was completed in the area northwest of the Jack Hamilton Ice Arena within A.E. Wilson Park. The testing revealed soil impacts which resulted in a portion of the park being fenced off.  

As promised, we are continuing to keep the community and neighbours informed as we investigate the extent of the soil impacts and determine the risk to the public. Additional investigations occurred across the park this summer including:

• Shallow soil sampling using hand tools; 
• A below-ground scan of the soil; 
• Deeper soil sampling with a backhoe and an environmental drill rig; 
• Groundwater sampling; and  
• Surface water and sediment sampling of Wascana Creek. 

The environmental consultant conducting the work has analyzed data and is preparing a number of reports, including a Human Health Risk Assessment.  

The Human Health Risk Assessment looked specifically at shallow soil across the park and determined if there was a risk to the public who use the park based on different age groups (toddlers, children, teenagers and adults) and assumptions on how long users were in the park (four hours a day, four days a week). The assessment was also based on the reduced risks when the soil is frozen and covered in snow throughout the winter.  

The Risk Assessment broke the park up into four different assessment areas based on the type of use as shown in Figure 1:  

• Area 1 which includes the Rick Hansen Optimist Playground; 
• Area 2 where the majority of the former wastewater treatment plant footprint was located; 
• Area 3 south of the playground and the parking lot; and  
• Area 4 is on the west side of Wascana Creek, including the two islands.  

Shallow soil samples in the playground (Area 1) and the area to the south (Area 3) reported levels below the Saskatchewan Environmental Quality Guidelines for human health indicating these areas are safe for all ages.  

The results from the north side of the park (Area 2) found that the shallow soil is impacted with lead at levels that pose an unacceptable potential risk to human health. The Human Health Risk Assessment recommended that fencing should be installed around the majority of Area 2 as a precaution until further investigation can be conducted.  

Portions of the west side of Wascana (Area 4) had elevated lead levels slightly above the acceptable amount for toddlers, so the City will be putting up signs to notify residents of the potential risk. Foraging for wild foods in Area 4 is not recommended. 

The risk to human health from lead-impacted soil in the park is through ingestion of the soil. Lead is not considered to be harmful from immediate contact but has the potential to be detrimental over a prolonged exposure period. By placing fencing around the north portion of the park, the potential risk to adults, children, toddlers, and pets will be reduced.  

Users of the park will see a new fence along with warning signs erected this fall or in the spring after the snow melts. The approximate location of the new fence is shown in Figure 2. Due to the nature of the soil impacts, the risk to the public is very low over the winter while the soil is frozen, and snow-covered.  

The fencing will be in place until further investigations can be completed and an environmental risk management plan is developed. The planned development of an off-leash dog park will be delayed while further investigations are being conducted.  

The next steps for managing the soil impacts in A.E. Wilson Park are being developed and will include further soil investigation and a long-term risk management plan.  

The City is committed to updating the public as we learn more. If you have any questions, please submit a service request by calling 306-777-7000.  

Figure 1

 

Figure 2