YORKTON – At the most recent regular meeting of Yorkton Council a study into the potential revitalization of Hopkins Lake was approved.
Council approved a tender from Clifton Engineering Group Inc. for $33,222.00 (excluding taxes and optional add-ons).
This is an interesting undertaking for the city given that Hopkins Lake – at least the water body itself was basically abandoned to the geese years ago.
And as geese are known to do, they settled into the area with a certain gusto, reproducing in good numbers, meaning that whatever might be done at the lake will need to begin with contending with geese that tend to return to their nesting grounds each year.
And even if the geese were wild-captured and re-established somewhere so that they didn’t just return the next spring, there will be their legacy to deal with too – years and years of goose manure.
It might be remembered by some there was an attempt to dredge an area of the lake to make it deeper to sustain trout. The dredged material was to become an island to fish off, but in short order the manure laden dirt sort of oozed back into the lake.
Beyond the lake much of what was once a nice area to picnic has been repurposed through the years, a dog park and ball diamonds on the beach area as examples.
Those might be moved, but in the case of the ball diamonds it would split facilities in the city and that would not be ideal.
That doesn’t mean the study is a bad idea – although perhaps it’s 20 years late in some ways.
In terms of background Hopkins Lake has a long history locally, explained Hunt.
Originally transformed in the 1960s, Hopkins Lake was dredged and sanded by the Jaycee Club, with City support, to establish Jaycee Beach. Through the 70s and early 80s, it served as a popular swimming location.
A return to a place to gather and picnic and swim that Hopkins Lake once was may not affordably be possible, but there may be visions for the lake not immediately seen which could make the area a feature for the city, rather than a spot known mainly as a goose refuge.
“This study will outline the necessary steps to restore the area as a vibrant recreational destination for the community,” said Connor Hunt, Director of Environmental Services with the city said at the most recent Council meeting.
If the project proceeds to subsequent phases, those fresh ideas will need to be identified through comprehensive strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and public outreach.
The study idea came from Council.
“Council previously directed Administration to explore opportunities for re-imagining Hopkins Lake through a community-driven and community-supported approach. The Engineering Design phase will assess the feasibility of revitalization by examining historical records, ecological conditions, bathymetry, terrain, and hydrology. The outcome will be a set of high-level options for moving forward with both the lake and surrounding park near the end of 2025,” said Hunt.
Funding for the study is coming from the Rainy Day Fund which has been bolstered the last two years by unexpected interest windfalls, and that seems like a solid investment because if a revitalization path can be found it would be a long term asset accessible to all.
