Regina's Proposed Road Extension Sparks Environmental Battle Over Protected Parkland
A southeast Regina community coalition is mounting strong opposition to a city proposal that would extend Prince of Wales Drive through the protected McKell Wascana Conservation Park. Nature advocates warn the project threatens both biodiversity and legal protections for the 171-acre ecological reserve.
Environmental and Legal Concerns Raised
Spokesperson Jack Huntington from the Wascana View Action Group (WVAG) emphasizes that McKell Wascana Conservation Park represents more than just green space. "We lose a remnant of the province's history if it's developed, and with that comes a loss of biodiversity," Huntington stated during a recent interview at the park. "It's a conservation easement, and it cannot be encroached on by any roads."
The City of Regina has commissioned a new study for 2026 to update previous exploratory work done in 2012. The proposal involves connecting the south end of Prince of Wales Drive to Wascana Parkway just south of the University of Regina. However, Huntington argues the city's plans are outdated, including the $27.8-million cost estimate floated in 2021.
Historical Context and Alternative Solutions
This transportation project has been under consideration since the 1980s as part of efforts to alleviate traffic pressures in southeast Regina, particularly along the overloaded Arcola Avenue. The 2012 study outlined six potential routes for the Prince of Wales Drive extension, with all but one cutting through the McKell reserve. The preferred route at that time would have skirted south of the Wascana Country Club.
WVAG is urging city officials to consider less invasive alternatives before proceeding with the controversial extension. Their suggested options include:
- Twinning current turning lanes to improve traffic flow
- Widening Arcola Avenue to accommodate increased volume
- Creating connections to the Regina Bypass (which wasn't built when the 2012 study was conducted)
- Developing links to Fleet Street instead of cutting through the conservation area
"There have been significant changes over the last 30 years," Huntington noted. "There's lots of options on the table that should be considered before the city spends $27 to $30 million to go across a marsh reserve that's protected by statute."
Multiple Concerns Beyond Environmental Impact
Beyond the direct threat to the conservation park, the proposed extension raises additional community concerns. Safety issues for students crossing Prince of Wales at Assiniboine Drive to reach École W.S. Hawrylak School have been highlighted as a significant consideration. The project would also redirect thousands more vehicles along Prince of Wales Drive, potentially creating new traffic challenges even as it attempts to solve existing ones.
Huntington emphasizes the unique nature of McKell Wascana Conservation Park, describing it as "unique to not only the City of Regina, but unique to the province of Saskatchewan." The protected area represents one of the few remaining natural marsh ecosystems in the region and serves as critical habitat for numerous plant and animal species.
As Regina continues to grow and develop its transportation infrastructure, the debate over the Prince of Wales Drive extension highlights the ongoing tension between urban expansion and environmental preservation. The 2026 study will provide updated information, but community advocates remain determined to protect what they see as an irreplaceable natural asset with both ecological and historical significance.
