City funding planning initiative for Forks parking lot

The City of Winnipeg is spending $75,000 to get public input and urban designs for a patch of empty land at The Forks.

The Forks Renewal Corporation and city officials are planning to develop a 12-acre parking lot across from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

The land, commonly known as Parcel 4, has seen a variety of contentious plans for its use. In April 2012,a $75 million water park was proposed by Canalta, but city councilors laterdelayed that plan, effectively killing it.

Now, the renewal corporation and the City of Winnipeg are undertaking a planning initiative to decide what will go on the land. It will include public consultations, urban designs and a development study.

The city will foot half the bill for the $150,000, with the Forks Renewal Corporation paying for the other half.

Coun. Mike Pagtakhan said council listened to the public when they delayed the water park project, and now wants to consult them before moving forward on a different project.

"We heard loud and clear, and so now we want to undergo a process that I think is very inclusive and that works with the strength of our city and thats the citizens of our city," said Pagtakhan.

Officials said they will consider public green spaces and a mix of other uses.

The process is expected to take one year.