Regina pop. expected to hit 300,000 and city wants residents’ input for planning

REGINA – The city of Regina has an eye on the future and wants residents to help share their city of tomorrow.

With Saturday being Town Planning Day, the city made an attempt to get residents involved in city planning with an information session at the downtown public library.

“Urban planning is only successful if we build cities and places where people want to live and we can only do that if people are actually involved in the planning process,” said Graham Haines, a senior policy research analyst with the City of Regina.

It’s all part of a worldwide initiative where people can see how their city will be shaped for the future.

Twelve year resident Roderick Slamp was in attendance for the session and for him, the future includes creating a desirable place where young people will want to live.

“We should make sure that our future generations have a place they’re willing to stay at and not abandon the communities,” said Slamp.

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This all comes at a critical time especially for Regina.

In the next 25 years, the city’s population is expected to grow from approximately 230,000 to 300,000 people, and they’re all going to need somewhere to live.

“We’re hoping to direct about 30 per cent, so 25,000 new people living in existing areas of the city where hopefully 10,000 of those will live very close to the downtown,” explained Haines.

It’s an ambitious goal, but one that city planners say is already taking shape.

“We’ve already seen some fantastic changes really driven by citizens. You look at downtown between now and even 10 years ago and the change is phenomenal,” said Haines.

Though, Haines also noted that that change is thanks in part to residents taking a bigger interest in their city.