Crews shovelling away years of sludge from the bottom of the lake in Victoria Park have also dug up a rather stinky situation.
Some of the people who use the park say the odour has been unbearable since November, and with Friday's warmer weather it is even more noticeable.
Mark Angel says "It's just a bitter, foul smell whenever you come to the park. You always know that distinctive park, and that is Victoria Park."
The smell has left some families longing for the Victoria Park of days gone by.
Stephanie Abma hates the smell now, but says she usually loves the park "Especially in the summer, with the splash park and everything, and having picnics. It's pretty fun."
City crews are continuing to dredge the lake and trucks are carting away more than 15 years of built-up sludge.
Project manager Melissa Ryan says "Really the bulk of the work is excavating the material, the sediment, the native material. We're deepening the lake and then we're going to be changing the entire lake edge perimeter."
The city had hoped that doing the work in the winter months would help avoid the stench.
In addition, Ryan says, it's not a regular occurrence.
"The idea is that we're not doing this extensive work every 15 to 20 years. We're doing it every 50 years."
Many residents recognize the magnitude of the work, and while some are choosing to stay away while it is done, others are admiring it.
Carl Smith lives beside the park and says he's taking the work in stride, admiring all the effort along with his grandchildren.
"I think its work that has needed to be done, and it was getting pretty clogged up. But I'm sure, when it's done, I'm sure it'll be beautiful again."
He's also looking forward to creating more cherished memories at the revitalized park when the work is finished.
The city say the bulk of the construction is expected to be completed by March, with the final reveal set for June.
