WINDSOR OPPORTUNITY

BY PAT KEALEY

 live on the edge of Windsor Park and take great joy in all it has to offer. For this reason, I became involved in a unique community project that would see the old City Ward Yard in the south west corner transformed into green space.

When I was much younger and things didn't go as planned  in my life, my mother would always say 'Everything that happens, happens for the best'. I used to hate it when she said that, however, over the years I've discovered to my surprise, that she was usually right.

Emboldened by reading in the newspapers about HRDC largesse, Gary Lum and I applied for an environmental grant from the Region to help defray the expense of changing an ugly asphalt wasteland, with a building on it, surrounded by a high, locked chain link fence, into a beautiful, green oasis with trees and flowers.

Windsor Park is used by thousands and much of it is given over to the facilities that make this neighbourhood so wonderful to live in; the baseball diamond ,the rinks, the pool, the basketball court, children's play structures, the tennis courts and the wetlands.

Well, we didn't get the grant. What does this mean for our project? There is some money to get things started. The City have offered us a matching grant of $7500. Because it is their land, they will demolish the building and we have learned that they will remove the fence and asphalt, but if the community wants to do anything more, we will have to pay for it. We have received money from ECOS for trees and shrubs, Councillor Berg has donated money and we have had a donation of a site plan. Our Regional Councillor Clive Doucet is supportive and most encouraging.

Now the ball is in our Park so to speak. Gary Lum and I hope we can count on each and every one of you who like to stroll by the river, walk the dog, play tennis or bring toddlers to play, to help through active labour on the site or a financial contribution to make this oasis a reality, so when we meet with City officials we can match the City grant.

It will probably take longer to happen, we'll all have to work harder, but that personal involvement we are asking from you will have it's own rewards in our Community. We are exploring fundraising, tax receipt and party-in-the-Park possibilities. There will be a public meeting at the Firehall May 24 at 7.30pm. Hope to see you there. Feel free to call me 730-2627 or Gary Lum 730-4383 with your ideas and support.