The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1999-07-21, Page 5• e geday, ,Jul 21. 1999 Quer Timew- Advgca►te J List of Exeter park projects whittled down By Craig Bradford TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER -- Exeter coun- cil narrowed the list of future parks projects at a special meeting last week. At the meeting, council prioritized projects identi- fied after a joint study by Huron County planner Wayne Caldwell, student county planner Claire Weir and town chief administrative officer Rick Hundey that was present- ed to council last month. Gaining high priority were: improvements to all playground equipment in town parks; creating the River Flat trails from MacNaughton Park to Morrison Dam; linking parks in town (dependent on new development, no money will be allocated). Medium priority projects included a'skateboard pad, improvements to Queens Park and setting aside land adjacent to the sewage lagoons for future sports facilities. Low priority projects included new soccer fields, improvements to Motz and Snider parks, more pas- sive park space and a nat- ural low maintenance park. Items crossed off the list included creating a park- ing lot for Nabisco Field, squash courts, funding a gym, an indoor pool, rodeo lights and walking trails other than the River Fiats. Projects that were taken off the list but will be addressed through future budgets include improve- ments to ball diamonds, improvements to the Victoria Park wading pool and more portable wash- rooms for parksand sports fields. Parks and recreation foreman -.Cam Stewardson said he wished council would set policy on issues like whether there would be mandatory parking requirements with new ball diamonds and soccer fields rather than spend most of their time dis- cussing individual projects on a wish list. The congestive parking problem on Wellington St. History remembered St Joseph historian Napolean Cantin, left, Father Andrew Sipek and Velma Cantin share a moment after the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony for the St. Joseph Memorial Park Historic Walkway on Sunday.The walkway commemorates the history of the French Canadian community and the ideas of Narcisse Cantin (Napolean's grandfather), called "the father of the St. Lawrence Seaway." The pro- ject was spearheaded by the St. Joseph and Area Historical Society which raised $28,000 for the project with the federal government kicking in the remaining $14,000 from the Millennium Bureau of Canada fund.The walkway features six historical stations describing pieces of St. Joseph history.Those stations includes welcome sign, the Balmoral Hotel, the history of French settlers in the 1800s, Brother Andre and the religious life,transportation and Narcisse Cantin and the Cane! Dream.Those still wanting to be a part of the walkway can buy a walkway stone that•will be installed in the path. For more information on buying a walkway - stone or on the historical society, call society president Pamela Grusska at (519) 236-7640. Narcisse Cantin dreamed of a deep sea canel system from Montreal to the head of the Great Lakes that included a canel from St. Joseph to Lake Erie near Port Stanley. St Joseph was to become a major city under Cantin's plan. While' fie failed to realize his goals for St. Joseph, the St. Lawrence Seaway became a reality. near the Nabisco ball dia- mond was discussed. One suggestion was for people to park about 200 yards away in the public works lot to the northeast of the soccer field. Another suggestion called for no parking signs on the nor'' side of Wellington it iu( iforce- ment. Council decided to , leave the matter as is for now. Coun. Joe Hogan said an indoor pool might not be a priority now, but it may become one after amalga- mation and with continued growth. Mayor Ben Hoogenboom said a service club repre- sentative has approached him about helping fund the improvements to the Victoria Park wading pool. Last month council dis- cussed moving the wading pool to beside the large public pool at MacNaughton Park. At last week's meeting, Coun. Peter Armstrong suggested keeping .the Victoria Park wading pool and adding another larger one at MacNaughton Park. Stewardson said having the wading pool at MacNaughton Park would be more efficient since both pools could use the same filtration system. Council decided to leave the wading pool at Victoria Park because many young families in the area take advantage of the facility. Armstrong also support- ed the skateboard pad at South Huron Rec Centre. He said a pad could be designed with other uses in mind in case skate- boarders don't use the facility. He said the pad could be constructed so -it could serve as a base for a stor- age shed or extra change rooms or a concession stand. Hogan asked whether MacNaughton Park could be linked to the Exeter Cemetery. He was told it could happen with the co- operation of Nabisco and other private land owners. The next step in develop- ing the plan for the future of town parks is for the county planners and Hundey to match the pri- ority list with the park inventory list and come back to council with rec- ommendations to achieve their goals. Hundey said options could include raising taxes, redeploying resources or selling/trad- ing surplus land. Caldwell, Weir and Hundey will report Back to counciLin two weeks. At that time, council could set a public meeting date to let taxpayers have their say on potential changes to the town's official plan. POLICE BRIEFS Fire extinguisher stolen GRAND BEND -- A boat docked along Edmonds Boulevard was broken, into during the night of July 12 and morning of July 13. Thieves made off with a fire extinguisher valued at $40. 4r 4 L_ SouthHuron Big Brothers/Big Sisters I'D 95 Thank_ you to our Community Partners for their continued support of our In -School Mentoring Program! Dinyer Bus Lines Marlene Davelaar Gary Bean Securities Ltd. ' Todd Robinson Lakeshore Advance Dave Scott Nabisco Ltd., Exeter Dan Springham Ontario Development Corporation Heather Buchanan BUILDING FUTURES THROUGH FRIENDSHIPS South Huron'Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Box 113 Exeter ON NOM 1 S6 (519) 235-3307 e-mail shbbbs @ odyssey.on.ca http://www.odyssey.on.ca/-shbbs Ontario Provincial Police - Exeter Joanna Van Mierlo Pinder, Taylor, McNeilly, Godkin Bonnie Obre Seip's valu-mart Cathy Seip Suntastic Hothouse Inc. Jodi Durand Donna Webster LADIES' SWIM SUITS Entire Remaining Stock Of One and. 2 Piece Styles 4O%OFF SUMMER SPORTSWEAR Quite Simply the Finest QUALITY �„,„.�/� •' • A LASTING 2'`"fi'� IMPRESSION P.V.C. TUBULAR RESIN FURNITURE - the Ultimat in Elegant Outdoor ��►� Living... . • HAMMOCKS • ARTIFICIAL PLANTS, TREES AND FLOWERS • SHADE HOUSES ACCESSORIES Shorts, T Shirts, Pants, Jackets, Skirts, Dresses & Shirts Qt% .70% OFF REG. PRICE SALE STARTS WEDNESDAY, JULY 21,10 A.M. Alt Sales Final GRAND BEND 238-2110 Hwy. 93 E (2 mhos from the water plant) Mon. -Wed. 9-5 • Thurs. & Frt. 9-7 • Sat. 10-4 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 85 MAIN ST. GRAND BEND 238-2511