Design Brief, Feasibility Study & Market Strategy

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to invite Proponents to prepare and submit competitive proposals to develop a Design Brief, Feasibility Study, and Market Strategy (hereinafter referred to as “the Plan”) that will include project and design principles, a building program and a site plan for the redevelopment of Meewasin’s property at 402 3rd Avenue South in Saskatoon.

The successful Proponent will work with Meewasin to engage key stakeholders including DTN YXE and Discover Saskatoon, and the National Urban Park Steering Committee (Government of Saskatchewan, Parks Canada, City of Saskatoon, RM of Corman Park, Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth, the University of Saskatchewan, Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatoon Tribal Council, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan) to inform the Design Brief.

The Plan shall determine how best to finance the redevelopment, including (if determined feasible) a strategy to take the project to market and evaluate potential private sector partner proposals.

Proponents are asked to submit a proposal that demonstrates their ability to incorporate appropriately into the Plan:

• Meewasin’s mission, mandate, and operations
• the Interim National Urban Parks Policy

More information about Meewasin can be found at www.meewasin.com. More information on the national urban park exploration in the Saskatoon region can be found at www.urbanparksask.ca.

Meewasin was formed in 1979 under The Meewasin Valley Authority Act, which establishes Meewasin’s jurisdiction, governance structure, and governing authority. Meewasin’s Board of Directors is comprised of four appointees from each of Meewasin’s “participating parties”: the Government of Saskatchewan, the City of Saskatoon, and the University of Saskatchewan.

miýwâsin is nȇhiyawȇwin/Cree for ‘it is beautiful’. Meewasin is a non-profit organization that exists to ensure a healthy and vibrant river valley, with a balance between human use and conservation, for the benefit of present and future generations, in Saskatoon & area. Meewasin is located on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We humbly acknowledge the traditional caretakers of the land and honour the First Nations and Métis people of this place, working for and with our traditional caretakers enables our region and community to move forward through meaningful actions of UNDRIP, SDG and TRC Calls to Action.

The Saskatoon region is home to over 325,000 people who live within 15 km of the Meewasin Valley. The Meewasin Valley Project, the 100-year plan and foundational planning document of the Meewasin Valley Authority, envisioned population growth up to 240,000 residents by 2079. That projection has been significantly surpassed today and as a result there is increasing pressure on the region’s natural areas and on the amenities within the Meewasin Valley. There are over two million visits to the Meewasin Trail annually, and there is currently no public-facing facility operated by Meewasin in downtown Saskatoon to welcome trail users and provide information about the Valley/region and its attractions.