ld Ottawa South was in good form for Ottawa's Capital Clean-up Day. Despite the cool weather and dark skies, the Saturday, April 26 Earth Day celebrations at Brewer Park were a hit. A group of about 300 enthusiastic Old Ottawa South residents helped celebrate Earth Day, clean up Brewer Park, and plant over 800 trees, shrubs, and vines.
The event was staged with generous support from Sunoco/Suncor Energy Foundation, the City of Ottawa, Earth Day Canada, Earth Day Ottawa, and ECOS, the Environment Committee of the Ottawa South Community Association. Crews from TVO, the New RO, and CJOH spoke to eager volunteers and videotaped their efforts.
The tree planting started off with a ceremonial tree plant by Jed Goldberg from Earth Day Canada, Eric Axford from Sunoco, and John Wright, a member of ECOS and a landscape architect who planned the tree plant. City councillor Clive Doucet, former mayor and New RO anchor Jim Watson, and John Fraser, Dalton McGuinty's executive assistant, all showed their support by planting trees and tagging them with name markers.
The tree planting is part of a long-term plan to rehabilitate and restore Brewer Park. As 10-year-old Sean Crighton explained, planting trees helps the environment and cleans the air. Last year, a storm water pond was constructed to catch runoff from Bronson Avenue, decrease flooding of the play field, and reduce water pollution that would kill the fish in the Rideau River. This year, a second pond and a swale were constructed to make Brewer even cleaner and greener. Volunteers helped plant trees and shrubs around the edge of the fish embayment, swale, and the storm water ponds.
A variety of species were planted, ranging from Red and White Ash, Tartarian Honeysuckle, and Common Lilac to Choke Cherry and Staghorn Sumac.
Organized by OSCA executive director Deirdre McQuillan, the park cleanup began at 9 a.m. Using picks, gloves, and garbage bags provided by Paul McCann of the City of Ottawa, a squad of about 40, including Brewer Park dog walkers, OSCA, Carleton University's TKE Fraternity, and the 5th Ottawa Brownies, picked up garbage throughout the park and play areas. They gathered over 30 bags of garbage, pieces of rusted wire, and glass. The oddest find was a large old buoy that had to be dragged from the shore of Brewer Pond by a crew of eight TKE Fraternity volunteers.
Sunoco/Suncor Energy Foundation provided activities for the children. A large air-filled climbing caterpillar was a popular play area. People could also test their soccer skills. A shooting gallery was set up with a radar gun to measure the speed of each kick. A few budding soccer stars had shots that were over 35 mph.
For the hungry volunteers, pizza, hamburgers, and fries were available from Lorenzo's Pizzeria, which had a canteen on site.
A popular destination for area residents, Brewer Park boasts play structures, sprinklers, play fields, baseball diamonds, walking paths, and areas for fishing. Thanks to everyone's efforts, Brewer Park is ready for another season.
Remember, although the City of Ottawa's Spring Cleaning the Capital 2003 Campaign may be almost over, we can all continue to help keep Ottawa clean and green throughout the year.