Double tobogganing slide coming to Winnipeg's Roblin Park

The bitterly cold weather didn't stop Mark Eldridge from bringing his son to toboggan in the snow in Winnipeg's Roblin Park on Saturday — and soon, there'll be a new slide there for others willing to brave the chill.

"If they get stuck inside, it's not good for them. It's very important that we get to play. You can always dress for it, right?" Eldridge told CBC News on Saturday at the park.

That morning, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said the city is set to build a new double toboggan slide in the park. 

"We'll definitely look forward to using it," Eldridge said. 

He said the playing area in the Westdale neighbourhood lost one of its toboggan runs last winter, and the lineups to go down the remaining one are sometimes long.

Gillingham said the city will start with design work for the new slide and hopes to complete the project soon, but he gave no timeline.

"Winnipeg is a winter city. We've always embraced it. We embrace it more and more, and what is really important is all the recreational amenities that allow us as families to enjoy winter," he said at the announcement of the project at Roblin Park on Saturday. 

Costs for the $100,000 slide are being split equally between the mayor's office and the ward allowance of Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood Coun. Evan Duncan.

"Today, it's all about investing in our community, in our community centres and our young people and our future," Duncan said at Saturday's announcement.

The new slide will let two people go down at the same time and race each other, Duncan said.

It's good news for Archie Buydens, who was at the park with his grandson.

He said the park is frequently visited by tobogganers.

"This way they're getting exercise, fresh air, meeting family, and the community pulls together," he said. "You can't beat it."