Young Fellows Park is a multi-year recreation development on the former Haig Elementary School site on Coteau Ave.
The City of Weyburn acquired the property in 2022 to preserve existing sport infrastructure and create new outdoor recreation opportunities for the community. A long-term concept plan was approved by City Council in 2024 and will guide development of the site over several phases.
Haig Elementary School closed in 2021 following the opening of Legacy Park Elementary School. In 2022, as the former school property became available, the City reviewed the site’s existing and potential future uses.
The site already included five ball diamonds and green space regularly used by local minor sport organizations. The City identified an opportunity to retain and improve that existing recreation infrastructure while developing the remaining space into a multi-use park with additional outdoor recreation opportunities.
In October 2022, City Council approved the transfer of the property to the City of Weyburn.
From the outset, the project was envisioned as a multi-year, phased development, with early possibilities including upgraded ball diamonds, a modified cricket pitch, sport court and winter skating area, landscaping, lighting, parking and other recreation amenities.
The original plan also recognized that development would depend on community consultation, future budgeting and partnerships, including opportunities for grants, sponsorships and support from community organizations.
As part of the 2024 budget, City Council allocated $15,000 for consulting services to support community engagement and development of a concept plan for the former Haig School site.
In February 2024, Council approved the selection of Cosby Hanna and Associates to lead the planning process.
The project was intended to establish a long-term roadmap for the park rather than a final construction design. Work included site surveys, technical review, identifying recreation opportunities, gathering community input and developing a concept that could be implemented in phases over several years.
Community input was an important part of developing the park concept.
Consultation included:
- A community stakeholder engagement session
- A feedback session with Weyburn Youth Council
- An online community survey with more than 900 responses
Feedback provided insight into how residents use recreation spaces, what amenities they would like to see and where opportunities existed to address gaps in the community.
The information gathered through the engagement process was used by Cosby Hanna and Associates to help shape the proposed layout and amenities included in the concept plan.
Following the planning and consultation process, the draft concept plan was presented to City Council on Sept. 9, 2024 and approved as a guiding document for future development of the park.
The concept envisions a multi-use recreation space that can serve a broad range of ages and interests while making use of the property’s existing sport infrastructure.
Proposed features include:
- Improvements to the existing baseball diamonds
- Modified cricket pitch
- Sport court and winter ice surface
- Permanent washroom and maintenance facility
- On-site parking
- Outdoor picnic and gathering area
- Walking pathways
- Landscaping and irrigation
- Trees, benches, waste receptacles and other park amenities
The concept plan is a long-term roadmap, not a final construction plan. Development is expected to occur over at least five phases and may change as the project progresses.
Individual amenities, project sequencing and scope may be adjusted based on community needs, recreation trends, available funding, construction costs, service expectations and opportunities to complete work using City resources.
City crews began preliminary site work at Young Fellows Park in August 2026, related to remnants from the demolition of the former Haig Elementary School.
This work is being completed using City staff and equipment and will help prepare the property for future park development.
The broader park development remains a multi-year, phased project. Future work will proceed as funding, partnerships and resources become available.
At the concept planning stage in 2024, the estimated outsourced contractor cost to complete all proposed phases was approximately $2.45 million, including a 25 per cent contingency.
This is a planning estimate, not an approved construction budget. Actual costs will vary as individual phases are developed and may be affected by construction pricing, available funding, changes to proposed amenities and work completed using City staff and equipment.
Development is expected to be supported through a combination of City capital funding, government grants, sponsorships and partnerships with community organizations.
Young Fellows Partnership
In September 2024, the City entered into a 20-year naming rights agreement with the Young Fellows Club of Weyburn, establishing the site as Young Fellows Park.
The agreement is valued at $220,000, including $200,000 toward development of the park and $20,000 in volunteer assistance from Young Fellows Club members.
That partnership helps explain both the park’s current name and one of the first significant funding commitments toward its future development.
Read the Young Fellows Park naming sponsorship announcement here.