Agenda – Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development – June 11, 2026
REPORTS
Item No. 11 Land Acquisition – Precinct D Regional Park
COMMUNITY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
On June 2, 2026, the Lord Selkirk-West Kildonan Community Committee recommended to the
Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development that the Winnipeg Public Service be
directed to report back in 180 days with a cost estimate to acquire 40 [99 acres] hectares of land for the purpose of a Regional Park in Precinct D.
Agenda – Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development – June 11, 2026
DECISION MAKING HISTORY:
COMMUNITY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
On June 2, 2026, the Lord Selkirk-West Kildonan Community Committee passed the following
motion:
WHEREAS Regional Parks have not been built in Winnipeg since the 1960’s;
AND WHEREAS the population of Winnipeg has been growing towards 1 million people by
2049;
AND WHEREAS the Winnipeg Parks Strategy calls for a new Regional Park to be built for
every 100,000 people;
AND WHEREAS Precinct D is in the early planning stages for development;
AND WHEREAS more than 40 Hectares [99 acres] of land will need to be purchased for a Regional Park;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lord Selkirk – West Kildonan Community
Committee recommend to the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development that the
Winnipeg Public Service be directed to report back in 180 days with a cost estimate to acquire 40
hectares [99 acres] of land for the purpose of a Regional Park in Precinct D…
COMMENT: The Lord Selkirk – West Kildonan Community Committee is going where the Riel Community Committee has never gone, actually costing out a new regional park for their growing community. The novel St. Vital Perimeter South sectoral study, a study that could easily have done such an analysis, has been quietly sidelined as both of its proponents, Landmark Planning and Qualico Developments, concentrate on more imminent Precinct K development to the north. The already approved Precinct K area structure plan north of the Perimeter makes no provision for a regional park. Historically, there were old City plans for a regional park south of future Warde on the east side of the Seine River, presumably on what is now referred to as the Sampson Lands. Currently for sale, the current City administration has shown no interest in acquiring this property for a future park. It is already pre-approved for residential multi-family use.
The City did express an interest in the last decade in the Sumka Lands south of the Perimeter Highway. Several attempts to buy all or part of the lands for the estate of the two Sumka brothers were made by both the City and by the Province. Unfortunately, they were not successful. Qualico is now the owner of the Sumka Lands.
AI Overview (June 6, 2026)
“The Sumka Lands are a 62.4-acre property in south Winnipeg, located east of the Seine River and immediately south of the Perimeter Highway. Comprising agricultural land and a Grade A riverbottom forest, the site was purchased by property developer Qualico to preserve the valuable natural habitat.
History of the Property
- Ecological Value: The site contains a 9.3 to 20-acre intact riverbottom forest, which is one of the last remaining high-quality private woodlands along the urban Seine River.
- Prior Ownership: The property had been jointly owned by the estates of the Sumka brothers, who operated a vegetable farming and greenhouse business on the uplands.
- Conservation Efforts: Local environmental groups like Save Our Seine spent more than a decade advocating for the preservation of the forest, as it was considered vulnerable to future commercial or residential development.
Recent Developments
- 2024 Listing: The property was ordered for sale by a Manitoba judge in late 2024 and was listed for $3,600,000.
- 2025 Acquisition: Following two previously unsuccessful attempts by the City of Winnipeg to purchase the land, property developer Qualico purchased the Sumka property package.
Future Outlook: Local representatives, including St. Vital Councillor Brian Mayes, have expressed confidence that the developer intends to preserve the crucial forested section of the land rather than clear-cutting it for suburban development.”
St. Vital Park (1929) is the Riel Community Committee’s premiere regional park.
“St. Vital Park is a 100 acres park in southern Winnipeg, Manitoba, located on a bend of the Red River. In winter months, a skating pond is situated near the pathways which cover the area. St. Vital Park is also a popular area chosen to have events such as weddings and picnics. It is the third largest park in the city.” (Wikipedia)
As of this writing, it is Qualico’s stated intention to develop their Sumka Lands property for residential use. At 63 acres in its entirety it would have been small by City standards had it been developed as a regional park. Save Our Seine would have objected to any tree clearing to create land for structures or athletic fields on the property. While preserving as much as possible of the high-quality Vermette forest in the Sumka Lands is worth our concern and attention, it is readily evident that land for any new regional park in St. Vital Perimeter South will have to be acquired elsewhere. Where that future park should be built should be a major question for the stalled sectoral plan.