HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-10-20, Page 9•
Cambridge treet Park is a reality
thanks to concerned parents' effort
By T.Marr
Seven years ago Ruth Erb
of Cambridge Street,
Goderich decided she didn't
want her children growing
up and using the local streets
as a neighborhood
playground. Although there
was a park up the street
from her house, Ruth says it
consisted of "a field and
some broken down equip-
ment which had been
brought in from other parks
and that was about it." The
neighborhood children very
rarely used the park and
Ruth decided it was time
something was done with the
area. •
In order to arouse com-
munity interest Ruth.
decided to hold a "Name the
Park" contest. "I ap-
proached local businessmen
and managed to collect $50
which went into a Canada
Savings Bond for the prize.
Then two senior citizens
were appointed as the
contest judges, residents
offered their suggestions and
Ronnie Ashton's idea of,
Cambridge Street Park was
chosen as the winning
name."
After naming the park,
Ruth continued to try and,
have the area improved, but
says very little was ac-
complished. She explains
"the neighborhood kids went
to the Parks Department and
got some paint and painted
the equipment, but that was
about it."
Finally, in April of 1980,
Ruth was able to express her
ideas at an Ontario Neigh-
borhood Improvement
Program (ONIP) meeting.
Fifty-one residents of the
Cambridge Street area at-
tended the meeting and most
thought 'that the park space
needed a community centre.
Ruth says "we wanted a
building where the kids could
playbasketball or
volleyball."
•
As well as suggesting the
construction of a building,
many residents voiced their
concern aboat the sorry state
of the park.
One of the concerned
parents, Gwen Kiar, told the
ONIP committee that she
was supportive of the
recreation complex
providing that the present
playground equipment was
also upgraded.
That remark was all that
Ruth needed to hear. She
introduced herself to Gwen
and says "with Gwen's in-
terest and my interest, we
proceeded to start working
together on the park idea."
The first step was handled
by Gwen who, having
worked as a commercial
artist in the past, was able to
design the playground area.
In her design, Gwen
proposed a park which could
be used for people of all ages.
In the plans she included a 12
foot high toboganning hill, a
tricycle or jogging path, a
games area, a roller and ice
skating rink and flower
gardens.
Instead of suggesting that
all new playground equip-
ment be purchased, Gwen
decided to incorporate the
old with the new.
After Gwen finished the
plans and drew the
blueprints, both she and
Ruth approached the
Commissoner of Works, Ken
Hunter.
Hunter who proceeded to
have a cost estimate done on
the plans informed the two
ladies that the park would
cost approximatley $71,800.
"That still didn't discourage
us':" Ruth says.
"We approached the Parks
Board and asked for $1,500 so
we could start the project. It
was then that Mr. Hunter
suggested that the park
Cambridge Street park drawing by Gwen Kiar
O
Safe, 04' Fufufe.
Ice andRoller Skofln9
Ronk-
70'
Ork7o' X 45
Site.
of
Fu+u i e
GcmeS
Area
T� Jr,c(ude-
B(1Skttball
Sh u-ff l e. boct,nd
Four - Square,
4401
Hop Sco+d"
could be constructed in three
phases" Ruth explains.
The first phase included
the installation of the slide,
sand box, teeter totters,
baby swings, flower gar-
dens, trees, log bridge and
the right side of the pathway.
This was to be completed by
the end of 1982.
Phase two would see the
tobogganing hill completed
and the games area would be
completed in phase three.•
After listening to Hunter's
suggestions Ruth and Gwen
organized a neighborhood
meeting and invited anyone
who ° wanted to offer
suggestions or help with the
park.
"Only five families came
to the meeting" Ruth says
"but then the work started
and there has been alot of
interest ever since."
When the construction
began, Katimavik par-
ticipants carried out the
majority of the work. The
crew was supervised by the
Parks Department but the
participants performed the
actual labor.
"I don't think the people of
this town know how hard
'those kids worked" Ruth
says. She adds "some of the
things they did were to, lay
all the sod, put down the
G`ntrance,.
a^de
mile To99in3 9rid
Bee Bo
i r to Tho-hiI 1
..IDE =�
AREA
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Ste �c X45:- paw
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1 I t 1, I ,,
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Ch11d�SwrirgS
wales
Fo u. nta irs
0
Enna
•RINGS •NECKLACES
*BRACELETS •BEADS
J�traO•end
51 ST. DAVID, GODERICH
S24.9972 '
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call the
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balance beams, seed, paint
and cement the ecgihipment in
place and they raked the
chips which form the
covering on the path."
Once the Katimavik crew
began their work, Ruth and
Gwen were approached by
neighbors who also wanted
to help. Residents volun-
teered not only their time but
also donated the use of
construction equipment.
At the same time as the
Katimavik crew was
working, paving was being
done on Cambridge Street.
So, the old gravel was taken
from the street and dumped
in the park for the tobogan
hill.
Before Ruth and Gwen
knew it, both phases one and
two had been completed and
the total cost was a mere
$1,500. "It's surprising when
neighbors get together what
they can do without having to
pay alot of money" Ruth
says.
John Doherty, chairman of
the Parks Department
agrees. He says "we were
kind of handicapped money
wise and I am happy we
were able to do as much as
we did." He adds "I really
appreciate what the people
in the neighborhood have
done and the amount of work
they have put .into it. They
are the ones that deserve the
credit."
Next year Ruth and Gwen
hope that phase three will be
completed. Ruth says "our
main project right now is to
see the rink section in-
stalled."
• Gwen adds "we want it so
any kid can come and put on
a pair of skates and have
some fun without having to
pay money."
Ruth clarifying what Gwen
has said, adds "this park is
not just for the kids in this
neighborhood. It's for all the
kids in the town."
As well as inviting children
to us park area, Ruth
and G say the kids are
also welcome to participate
in the activity time at the
Community . Centre. "On
Sundays from 2-4 pm and 7-9
pm ,children are more than
welcome to come and take
part in whatever we are
doing" Ruth says.
She also adds '`we need
'parents to act as volunteers
in supervising the children.
There really isn't much
involved, all we need is to
have an adult there; when
the kids are. It would ' be
appreciated if any parent
who is interested, would
contact Gwen or myself."
1982 TAXES
THIRD AND FINAL INSTALMENT
DUE FRIDAY OCTOBER 22'82
Payable at any local chartered bank or Vic-
toria & Grey Trust Company.
Present your tax bill when making
payment.
Interest will be added to overdue in-
stalments.
Larry J. McCabe
Tax Collector
THIS 15 YOUR TOWN --- GET OUT AND VOTE
F OUND
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INCE.
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ON NOVEMBER 8th
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1982—PAGE 7
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