HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-02-28, Page 24•
Page6
Parks became
eery irnportant
part of town
The development of
Goderich Parks in the
seventies is evidenced not
only in the expansion and
improvement of the
Parks work, but in the
- appearance of the town,
According to Councillor
Elsa Haydon who has
served on the parks
Committee since 1975, the
Parks progress has been
based on teamwork,
—'�edi'ca'tton -Wand
awareness of its im-
portance in the town's
overall picture.
"It has been intended to
•improve the quality of
our eireryday lives, to
give pleasure to residents
and to add to the visable
attractions necessary to
invite tourists who are
notonly our guests, but
who also contribute to our
economy." says Haydon.
A better understanding
of Parks work has been
promoted in the seventies
she points out. The in-
volvement of many parts
of the community has
given it extra dimensions
and relevance.
The Parks workers
have been encouraged to
learn and to take pride
and initiative in their
tasks and "II shows in th.e
results of their work."
she adds.
In addition to the very
considerable and
valuable contribution
made by the Parks
Advisory Committee, a
lot of credit must go to the
Cotnmissioner of Works,
Kenneth Hunter, ob-
serves Haydon. His co-
ordination of much of the
daily work and par-
' ticipation• in its planning
stages has been of great„
help to the Parks Com-
mittee.
Peter Spain, who has .
been the parks Foreman
since 1972 and ,also
worked on the parks prior
to that time, can best
.compile and appreciate
the list of changes. and'
improvements in the
,Parks related practices •
and attitudes during the
decade, according to
Haydon. Mr.. Spain, •
assisted by Mrs. Haydon,
prepared a com-
prehensive report of the
development of the parks
system thrbygliout the
seventies and the
following overview is
based on their report
At the beginning of the
seventies therewere 11 '
parks and parkettes
where the grass was .cut,
and about eight
flowerbeds. Public
Works cut grass in the
bigger parks; the smaller
ones were cut by the
Parks crew who also
marked the ball
diamonds in the
Agricultural Park. -
Public Works planted
trees, perhaps 50 or 60 a'
year, picked from the
bush at Benmiller. The
flowerbeds were planted
by a supplier.
Casual labour was
taken when needed;
treguently from welfare
rolls, usually six men at a
time.
Former councillor
Leroy Harrison should be
credited with starting
gradual- updating and
upgrading of Parks
practices according to
Spain. During his
chairmanship, 1973 and
1974, •hei took a couple of
Public Works members
to London to tour nur-
series and public parks,
in order to•obtain ideas
for improvements.
At that time. about 100.
trees were planted an-
nually - for the first time
nursery grown _ anci'some
hanging flower baskets
were . added, a donation ---
Turn to page 7 •
a
ebeginning
ofanew
decade brings
continuing
Brightly painted tourist booth new to Goderich in last decade
Good use of grant money.
• from page 5
summer. The former
light standards were
replaced with standards
ressembling the original
lamp posts.
The changes on, The
Square have made the,
downtown core more
attractive but says
Shewfelt, "it could be
looked upon as my
downfall " _. --
"You couldn't convince
some people that is was
not costing the taxpayers
money." Money for the
improvements comes
from a increased leyy on
the businesses in the
area.
The town ad
ministration and town
council took , a new
philosophy for paying for
new services. Reserves
were created in areas
where expenditures were
expected.
As an example, an
additional charge on the
sewage rates has created
a sinking fund for the
expansion of the sewage
works plainit which will
probably be done in 1981.
The development of the
airport was another of the
accomplishments during
the terms bf former
mayor Shewfelt. A
co-m-r-ni-tte•e of council
worked with local . in-
dustries to get things
0 •
going and as a result,
business air services
were extended, a new
hanger was built, the
runways were extended
and the weather
station,which could have
left the area, was moved
to the airport.
Jubilee 3, the
celebration of the town's,
- 150th birthday, was the
climax of the. positive
attitude ofthe council in
office during Shewfelt's
years as mayor.
"It. was the peak of all
the positive things that
were happening."
"The councillors were
boosters, not knockers."
observes S.hewfelt.
"We had to bang a lot of
heads 'together to get
things started in 1974.and
1975." he adds. �,-
"But we put per-
sonalities aside and when
it . came down to the,
crunch, we made the
decision on what was best
for the community."
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