Welcome To OURS-Winnipeg
OURS-Winnipeg (Outdoor Urban Recreational Spaces – Winnipeg) is a community based organization that originated in December, 2011 to protect public golf courses from commercial or residential development. OURS-Winnipeg will continue to monitor any developments pertaining to the golf courses and will advocate for good stewardship of this valuable resource that belongs to us all.
OURS-Winnipeg has since evolved to become a city-wide green space advocate organization with a focus on urban green spaces, river and nature corridors and the urban forest.
OURS-Winnipeg continues to urge the City of Winnipeg to initiate consultations for the development of planning documents that preserve and enhance the natural amenities of Winnipeg.
The City of Winnipeg needs to develop an urban vision by enacting a holistic Master Green Space Plan with
1. An Urban River Corridor Plan that includes all rivers and streams
2. An Urban Parks Plan
3. An Urban Forest Management Plan
4. And reflects the intrinsic, cultural, economic and ecological value of our natural assets.
OURS-Winnipeg has consistently called for timely and meaningful public consultations involving a broad participation of citizens prior to any significant planning decisions being taken by the City of Winnipeg.
OURS issued a call in 2012 for consultations and protection of public golf courses and within several months over 9,000 people signed the OURS petition. In May 2013, a further attempt was made by City Hall to privatize the operation of four of the city-owned golf courses and to declare the John Blumberg Golf Course surplus, paving the way for its sale. Citizens rallied and again the golf courses were saved. Citizens of Winnipeg want and demand timely and meaningful consultations regarding decisions that affect the future of their city.
Parks, green spaces and natural are essential to making Winnipeg an attractive place to live, work, and visit. Green space and natural areas near where we live provide multiple benefits for our well being. With good planning and investment they will be there for generations to come. Planning must be done by the City of Winnipeg to prepare a multiyear master infrastructure plan to manage Winnipeg’s green space, forest, urban wilderness and connecting corridors. Read more… OURS-Winnipeg Master Greenspace Plan - updated 2018
Green space - Urban green space is land within urban areas that is partly or totally covered by vegetation. The term can be applied to existing or planned green elements and structures for all kinds of urban green (and blue) spaces regardless of their ownership, management, current use, and functionality. This includes parks and street trees, as well as urban agricultural and forest land, wastelands, cemeteries and private gardens (including roof gardens). Source: An Impact Evaluation Framework to Support Planning and Evaluation of Nature-based Solutions Projects. Report prepared by the EKLIPSE Expert Working Group on Nature-based Solutions to Promote Climate Resilience in Urban Areas 2017