After a year of construction, Richmond’s Minoru Lakes Park officially re-opened to the public on Friday.
Issues with the lake and surrounding amenities at Minoru Park prompted a $3.1 million renewal project that closed the park in April 2022.
The lakes were originally built in the 1970s, but water system failures resulted in poor water quality, increased the use of potable water, frequent maintenance and water leakage, according to the City of Richmond website.
A newly constructed and designed pond now includes a cascading waterfall that “introduces oxygen into the captured stormwater runoff from the surrounding area,” reads the website.
The deeper pond was designed to improve water quality, reduce water loss and create new habitats for birds, plants and other wildlife species.
New benches, picnic tables, a boardwalk with seating areas, a bridge and more accessible pathways have also been erected in the area around the lake.
“For the past four decades, the Minoru Lakes Park has been an important and popular location for residents and visitors to relax and enjoy nature in the middle of our growing city,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie.
“The renewal of the lake and park, while necessitated by infrastructure issues, has resulted in an even more inviting location that is welcoming to people of all ages as well as an abundance of flora and fauna.”
Despite the upgrades, one Richmond News reader has voiced her displeasure about the lack of shrubs and shade trees.
Maggie Flintoff told the News the park could use more flowering bushes and benches in the shade for sunny days.
