The land was
originally granted to Edgar John Day in 1912. In 1961, the
city of Saskatoon acquired the property with the provision,
stated on the land title document, that it was to be used
as a ‘public park and for no other purpose’. It was after
this time the city decided to give it the name: Chief
Whitecap Park. This is the only connection the Dakota
native group has with the park.
The following two paragraphs are from the City Council
minutes 19/09/05.
“...In 1961 the City of Saskatoon purchased from the
Government of Canada, approximately 350 acres of land along
the east bank of the South Saskatchewan River at a price of
$13,000 with the provision that :the land is to be used for
the purpose of a public park”. Approximately 200 acres of
this land was under a farm lease when purchased and the
balance of the land was left in its natural state. Most of
the cultivated land continues to be leased for agricultural
purposed and the revenues derived from there are used to
cover expenses including interest costs, property taxes,
maintenance and administrative costs. This City-owned land
is located within the R.M. of Corman Park and is within the
MVA Conservation Zone.
At the meeting held, June 29, 2005, City Council adopted a
recommendation from the Land Bank Committee that three
specific riverbank areas “be designated as a public space
where dog owners are permitted to have their dogs
off-leash”. One of these areas designated was within Chief
Whitecap Park and incorporated a significant portion of the
Park. ...”
The mound in the middle of the park is the remains of the
old rifle range used to train soldiers during the second
world war.