Despite a shift in operations due to COVID-19, the Steinbach Parks and Recreation Department has been busy completing a number of major projects and getting ready for summer.

Head of the Department, Russ Dyck, says this past year has been tough for some of their staff who normally work at the T.G. Smith Centre or the Steinbach Aquatic Centre. He notes, in some cases, their staff have been utilized elsewhere but would obviously prefer to work their normal jobs.

Abe's hill has a newly renovated parking lot off of Woodhaven AvenueThat said, in addition to the major upgrades at the aquatic centre, Dyck says they were able to complete a number of projects, including some work at L.A. Barkman Park or Abe's Hill.

"There was an old parking lot that was used back in the 90's off of Woodhaven which wasn't really a street at that point, it was really more of a dirt road. Last year with the extension of Woodhaven, we decided to renovate that parking lot to accommodate more parking for that park and that general area. The pathways on that side of the city have grown over the last number of years so the park is quite busy."

The new Abe's Hill parking lot was completed last fall and has already been well used this past winter. Dyck says the old parking lot at Giesbrecht Street and Reimer Avenue is also still in use.