With the city's on-going growth, Parks and Recreation Director Rick Denison says requests continue to come in for additional park space in Winkler.

"We're kind of limited in terms of opportunities to expand existing parks, the next step would be to secure additional land," Denison says. "That's an on-going challenge for city council to try and find affordable space."

The city has undergone a number of enhancement projects for existing local parks in recent years.

In 2014 the park South of the Winkler Aquatic Centre received a major overhaul. In 2015, one of the city's oldest parks on 6th St. similarly saw an upgrade.

A playground was added on Roblin West this past summer.

This coming summer, Denison notes they hope to add a park and playground space north of Wal-mart.

"We are trying to develop space as it becomes available and the dollars allow us," Denison says.

Along with Winkler's growth and the coming expansion of the Meridian Exhibition Centre, the city recently created a new parks and recreation foreman position.

Denison says the extra set of ears and eyes on the ground will help keep communication open between staff and management, as well as monitoring special projects.

"For the past couple of years we felt, as we're growing, it's harder and harder for the director to keep a pulse on what's going on in terms of day-to-day maintenance and tracking projects," Denison says. "If there was an assistant foreman position created, that person could sit down with myself and go over priorities in park planning and maintenance."

The extra help will free up more time for short and long-term planning, including the mosquito control programming in the city which Denison oversees.

Long-time employee Steve Dyck will be stepping up to the role.