About the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park are two afforestation areas located in Saskatoon, SK. Map This website was started by the administrators, who were first named as the stakeholders and stewards for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area during the first undertakings. The users of the afforestation areas have assembled together for greenspace cleanups, and to protect the afforestation area with various initiatives. George Genereux Urban Regional Park is zoned industrial/park and is owned by land branch, the City of Saskatoon department in charge of buying and selling land. Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is zoned residential/park and is owned by land branch, the City of Saskatoon department in charge of buying and selling land. As such, they do not belong to parks department. There is no money for maintenance or upkeep except for the small area inside the SW OLRA. The Friends are working to change that. The Friends work together with the City of Saskatoon and the MVA for the conservation of these unique urban regional parks with so much to offer in the form aesthetic, historic, scientific, cultural, social and spiritual importance of these places.
There is a non – profit incorporation named Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. The afforestation area needs members of the community to raise additional funds, and support the the greenspace which is home to federally listed and provincially listed endangered species. The Friends rose to this challenge. Currently both afforestation areas belong to land branch the City of Saskatoon department in charge of buying and selling land. The city has plans to grow and develop residential neighbourhoods and employment sectors out this way in the long range plans. The Blairmore Sector development will see 7-8 new neighbourhoods and 70,000 residents as neighbours on one side of the afforestation area, and employment sector for these added residents is planned on the other side of the afforestation areas, and the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) have a rural commercial/industrial sector planned on the other side of the afforestation areas. No longer will the Richard St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and the George Genereux Urban Regional Park be in a peri-urban area of the City of Saskatoon. With these new long range plans, the afforestation areas will be nestled in the midst of neighbourhood developments. How will increased growth around the afforestation areas affect the greenspace?
This Friends work to protect and conserve important wildlife habitat and greenspace on two large blocks of land on the west edge of Saskatoon. The Richard St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (RSBBAA) and the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (GGURPP) are areas that were renaturalized as a tree nursery planting scheme in the 1970s as part of the Green Survial Program for the City of Saskatoon (CoS). These two blocks (340.57 acres and 147.9 acres respectively) are part of the West Swale and provide a wildlife corridor from the area north of Saskatchewan Highway 7, through to Chappell Marsh and the South Saskatchewan River.
The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. charity engage in those environmental protection, interpretation, and education programming prospects and endeavours which increase public awareness, community support, and increased knowledge around the natural environment, the rich and diverse heritage, and place-based learning opportunities in the afforestation areas. We provide environmental learning and experiences to connect the afforestation area user and visitor to the natural, geological, water-based, cultural, scientific, geographical, historical heritage. This era of new city growth will see an exponential increase in users to the eco-system of the afforestation areas. There is no wish to have illegal trash dumping, and illegal trespass multiply exponentially with the new city expansion. It is imperative to enact a change in behavior and encourage desired users to these urban regional parks who are stewards and stakeholders of the afforestation areas and wetlands. It is desired to engage in youth classroom environmental education to usher in a new generation of environmental guardians.
How do afforestation areas benefit from a Friends group? They benefit because there is an increase in resources to extend the city’s capacity through volunteers, programming, grant applications, sponsorship opportunities and dollar gifts. There is a need at the Afforestation areas to supply and install motorized vehicle barriers, outdoor garbage cans, a parking lot out on the west end of Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, as well as interpretive signs and park amenities to celebrate this urban regional park. Vehicle restrictions, park identity signs and garbage cans amenities help to reduce illegal trash dumping, and illegal trespass by motorized vehicles. Large park signs celebrate the identity of Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, and define the green space as a truly invaluable greenspace appreciated by so many people from many walks of life. Additionally, these amenities also support the George Genereux Urban Regional Park. Jersey Barriers, parking lots, and garbage cans may not seem like fancy park amenities such as benches, etc but they are in their own right vitally important to sustain the greenspace as a beautiful scenic greenspace.
Friends are advocates for the afforestation areas, and make a difference for the greenspace, indeed. Critical habitats for species in danger of extinction become conserved and protected. Please contribute to this online web site about the afforestation areas, if you have a story to share. Additionally the purpose or objectives of the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. are included below, so it can be seen what the “Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc” is accomplishing in alignment with those strategic plans of the City of Saskatoon and the MVA. The city, MVA and the Friends meet together to determine which course of action to pursue.
If you would like to see your submitted content online about the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, or the “George Genereux urban regional park”, send an Email to friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, with the text for submission clearly marked – i.e. between two rows of stars, or submitted as an attachment. Only completed articles are considered. Countless factors affect whether an opinion article is chosen for publication online, some factors include space constraints, timeliness and relevance to the George Genereux Urban Regional Park / Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. If you have any special expertise / background i.e. user of the afforestation area; event upcoming at the afforestation areas; to have your article considered for publication please elaborate. We look forward to hearing from you.
The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. non profit incorporation has five charitable purposes as follows;
1/ To protect the environment for the benefit of the public by conserving or restoring ecosystems and biodiversity on a long-term basis at the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, which were preserved in perpetuity by City of Saskatoon Council in 1972.
2/ To protect the environment for the benefit of the public by reducing pollution and by cleaning up illegal trash dumping in the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas through addressing land dump sites and monitoring wetlands and greenspaces for instances of illegal dumping
3/ To provide public amenities by maintaining the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas.
4/ To protect and preserve significant heritage sites by ensuring safety, restoring, developing, and maintaining the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas with a view to commemorating the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas and educating the public about it. Commemorate; honor and respect the past, celebrate the present and provide a legacy for the future.
5/ To receive and maintain a fund or funds and to apply all or part of the principal and income therefrom, from time to time, to qualified donees as defined in subsection 149.1(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
As an aside, the City of Saskatoon, and the MVA are both qualified donees, as are other charitable organisations in Saskatoon.
The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., are registered with the Information Services Canada (ISC) Saskatchewan, under entity number 102084283.
The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and
George Genereux Urban Regional Park are both Saskatoon’s best kept
secret treasures! The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas
Inc. has formed to help preserve them as greenspaces, as they are loved,
appreciated and enjoyed by so many members of the public, indeed, all
year long. This area of Saskatoon is coming into some dynamic changes
under the long range planning schemata to meet the target of 500,000
residents for Saskatoon by 2025. In fact, in the next 3-8 years, there
will be 70,000 new Saskatoon residents residing in seven new
neighborhoods adjacent to the afforestation areas. The afforestation
areas, both Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux
Urban Regional Park, and the P4G Green Network Study Area
are all important greenspaces to value in this time of growth and
expansion. George Genereux Urban Regional Park is zoned industrial/park
and is owned by land branch, the City of Saskatoon department in charge
of buying and selling land. Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
is zoned residential/park and is owned by land branch, the City of
Saskatoon department in charge of buying and selling land. Please get
involved.
Location: Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area RSBBAA is north of Cedar Villa Road; west of the Civic Operations Centre (Bus Barns) and north of the Chappell Marsh Conservation Area land area; east of the Saskatoon Italian Centre, and north of Cedar Villa Estates.
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS 1 South West off leash recreation area parking lot
Travel out of the south west sector neighbourhoods of the City of Saskatoon on Circle Drive towards the City Landfill. Take the “Valley Road” exit, however when the Civic Operations Center (Bus barns and snow dump) are seen on the right side of the road (north), then take a right turn and quick left turn onto Township road 362A (Cedar Villa Road). Keep traveling in the west direction until the signs for Chappell Marsh Conservation area are seen on the left side of the road (south) and the blue South West Off leash recreation area signs are seen on the right side of the road (north). The parking lot for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is kindly accommodated at the South West Off Leash Recreation Area (SW OLRA) and these signs are seen on the right side of the road (north). The SW OLRA is a reserved area of 14.5 acres within the the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation area. 52.1004657,-106.7539449 to park at the South West off leash recreation area (SW OLRA) parking lot.
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS 2 to SW OLRA
Parking available at the South West Off Leash Dog Park Parking Lot. Best access is by vehicle. Coordinates 52° 06′ 106° 45’Exit the Blairmore Suburban Development Area (SDA) by traveling south west on Sk Highway 7 towards Pike Lake. Drive up and over the CN overpass. At the top CN overpass if you gaze to the west (right) sight the Afforestation Area formerly known as George Genereux Urban Regional Park, if you peek over to the east (left) the trees sighted from the CN overpass are the Afforestation Area named for Richard St. Barbe Baker. Turn off SK Highway 7 left onto Cedar Villa Road, the very first turn off from Sk Highway 7 after the overpass. Driving on Cedar Villa Road follow the road around as it turns naturally to the right, proceed south for apace then take a left turn after the rail crossing to travel east on the gravel road still named Cedar Villa Road. Travel down Cedar Villa Road., even after it turns to a paved highway traversing through Cedar Villa Estates. Chappell Marsh Conservation Area will be located on the south side of the road (right) when traveling in this direction. The SW OLRA will be located on the north side of the road (left) when traveling in this direction. The SW OLRA is a reserved area within the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, and provides convenient parking spaces in the parking lot.
Afforestation Area directions:
The coordinates for Google maps are 52.1020859,-106.7427357 to park at the “Blue Pipe parking lot at the north end of the ‘old snow dump road’ west of the Civic operations centre and east of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.
West Side Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area directions park west of railway tracks:
The coordinates for Google maps are 52.1024578,-106.7870807 to park west of the rail line level crossing at Cedar Villa Road. This is west of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area near Saskatchewan Highway 7. Note: Travel by motorized vehicle east of the rail line and into the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is subject to fines according to City of Saskatoon Bylaw No. 7767; The Recreation Facilities and Parks Usage Bylaw.
“George Genereux” Urban Regional Park travel directions: directions:
The coordinates for Google maps to arrive at “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park are 52.1132738,-106.7901621,786 for Range Road 3063. Civic address for this park is 133 Range Road 3063. There is no formal parking lot, and motorized vehicles need park on the range roads or on the grid township roads. Best access is travel west out 22nd Street West (Sk Hwy 14) past the Blairmore suburban development centre (Shopping malls) and Kensington neighbourhood. Turn left on Range Road 3063. Proceed south until you arrive at the afforestation area known as “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park on Township Road 364.
NOTE Any person who disposes or dumps waste at the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area or at the “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park is liable to a fine of $25,000 according to City of Saskatoon BYLAW NO. 8310.
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area This map shows both the West Swale and the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area RSBBAA
Google Maps with Off Leash area location pin at parking lot:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.1005354,-106.7541901,15z
The afforestation area received its name in 1979. Here is a brief biographical account of a great humanitarian, Richard St. Barbe Baker, known to his friends as St. Barbe.
Image Credit Richard St. Barbe Baker Photos Courtesy
University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections,
Richard St. Barbe Baker fonds, MG 71
Richard St. Barbe Baker (9 October 1889 – 9 June 1982) was an English forester, environmental activist and author, who contributed greatly to worldwide reforestation efforts. As a leader, he founded an organization, Men of the Trees, still active today as the International Tree Foundation, whose many chapters carry out reforestation internationally.Wikipedia excerpt
Richard St Barbe Baker received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1971 from the University of Saskatchewan and the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth in 1977. The St. Barbe Grove Nursery initiated in 1987, is located in Western Australia. The World Wildlife Fun made him their first Honorary Life Member in 1989. As well a memorial honouring St. Barbe Baker was erected in the West End of Hampshire in the spring of 2003.
Richard St Barbe Baker founded the Men of the Trees in 1922. The mission of the Men of the Trees is “To bring people together to plant and grow trees, and to achieve healthy, productive, sustainable landscapes. ….[goal] become a leader in environmental education specialising in revegetation, food and community engagement.”(Men of the Trees)
“Almost everywhere in the world man has been disregarding the Divine Law and the Laws of Nature, to his own undoing. In his pride, he has rampaged over the stage of the earth, forgetting that he is only one of the players put there to play his part in harmony and oneness with all living things.” wrote Richard St Barbe Baker in his book, “The Divine Law and the Laws of Nature”
At his last tree planting ceremony on the University of Saskatchewan grounds he said the Children of the Green Earth Motto; ”
From our hearts
On the west side of Saskatoon the afforestation areas preserved in perpetuity in 1972 are located at:
- Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (City of Saskatoon Urban Regional Park) Parts Section 22 and SW 23 township 36 range 6 west of the third meridian. (East of the CN overpass on SK Highway 7) SE 22 & SW 23-36-6 W3 under MVA conservation management.
- Un-named City of Saskatoon Afforestation Area. Part south of CN Chappell yards SE section 23-36-6-W3 preserved as afforestation area in perpetuity, under MVA conservation management- west of SW OLRA and east of COC.
- In 1960, part of NE 21-36-6 W3 (West of the CN overpass on SK Highway 7) was purchased by the City, planted in 1972, preserved as an afforestation area. Named in 1978-1979 George Genereux Park (Urban Regional Park), this namesake was removed at this afforestation area for use at a different city pocket park.
There is another afforested on the east side also in 1972 (west of the extant Saskatoon golf and country club and south of Diefenbaker Park).
The Province of Saskatchewan Motto:
Multis e gentibus vires (From Many Peoples Strength)
Has any one of us ever really seen a Tree? When we become aware of trees we may each glimpse of them to moments of spiritual vision and, identifying ourselves with the trees, become conscious of the rising of the sap; the upward thrust of life, leaf burgeoning, their consciousness of the changing seasons; we may share their passionately boisterous exuberance of life in the height of the storm, and their tranquility when at rest; with them we will enjoy the glad murmur of the ripening seed clusters when after weeks of drought the steady warm rain brings relief to thirst; and we will know that these creatures, our elder brethern, are intimately related to us in their love and hunger for life. We may even catch their enthusiasm and aspire heavenwards while still rooted in our Mother Earth and in communion with our fellow man and, tree-wise, strive to make the Earth more fruitful again.~Richard St. Barbe Baker
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