A new Master Plan for the rehabilitation of the Kinsmen Park Area is now complete. 

The Master Plan sets a 25-year process to renovate this site in order to create a civic activity node that is place specific, memorable and enjoyable for all ages and abilities year-round. The functional program for Kinsmen Park and area considers users city-wide with a special focus on children, while continuing to support local communities and the growing downtown population.

Summer and Winter programming have been considered as part of the Master Plan. The adaptive Re-use of the Mendel Building, transportation on Spadina Crescent, and riverbank restoration have also been considered in the new plan.

The geographic scope of this work includes Kinsmen Park, the Mendel Art Gallery, the adjacent Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan site and the Shearwater Tours boat dock.

In March 2011, Space2Place Landscape Architects were selected as consultants to carry out this work following a consultant proposal call that was carried out in January and February.

A number of events have taken place to date in order to gain information from the public on the Kinsmen Park Area. On March 10th a design charette was held with the University of Saskatchewan School of the Environment graduate students, and the Aden Bowman Earthkeepers class. Following this, the first Stakeholder consultation was carried out by Space2Place on March 24th. Detailed site and user information was discussed at the Public Workshop that was held on April 13th. On April 14th, grade 3 and 6 students from St. Marguerite School made 10 different and highly creative play scenarios for the park. 2 design concepts were taken to the public and Stakeholders for consideration on June 2nd.  Kids were asked their preference for play elements and program at the 2011 Children's Festival. Information from these events has directed the Master Plan concept prepared by Space2Place over the course of the last few months. A special thanks to everyone who has participated to date.

The Mendel Building will be available to new tenants in 2014. In January and February, a Call for Ideas was carried out, and eight responses were submitted for consideration. Discussion is currently underway with these groups to determine details which are needed to proceed to the next steps of the process. Currently, a proposal led by the Children's Discovery Museum is under development for consideration by Council.

Sponsors for the implementation of the first phase of the Kinsmen Park and Area Master Plan are PotashCorp and Canpotex, with construction to commence in 2012.