Colourful and attractive

WCA’s Wellington Park project receives official status

Wellington Park, with its views over Lake Ontario, is a gathering spot for both locals and visitors. It hosts Music in the Park weekly through the spring and summer months, Canada Day and Pumpkinfest celebrations, a Remembrance Day ceremony, and is the perfect spot to catch a cool breeze with a picnic lunch.

Wellington Park has a history of community involvement. The playground in the park was in need of updating in the early 2000s, and Saskia Koning rallied the village to fundraise and install the current structure.

But tighter municipal budgets have seen service levels shrink. The park is in need of attention. Peta Hall, and Lisa Reddick, members of the Wellington Community Association’s Beautification Committee, provided a deputation about the revitalization of Wellington Park, which they say is the group’s biggest project to date.

“Our main focus is on the Wellington Park. It is neglected, bleak, and forlorn,” said Hall. “We know the park is locally loved and used by various service groups and for village celebrations and events. We just want it to be upgraded, and more kempt, colourful, attractive and creative.”

Hall explained that she is currently working with the appropriate County departments and are led by a professional steering committee of master gardeners, County Garden Club executives, Native Plant Specialists and Landscape Designers and have a team of volunteers who are already at work on the park. So far, with the help of dedicated volunteers and donations, the flagpole flower beds and entrance wall beds are complete.

“We have six new trees that have been donated by community members. The trees have all been carefully selected by the Master Gardeners and County specialists. Our plan includes revitalizing the existing beds with new plantings of colourful perennial native pollinators, and all the plants are suitable to our climate and location,” she said.

The next round of work will include a long bed of colourful plants and grasses from Main Street to the water to hide the chain link fence on the west side of the park.

“We believe it will make a major improvement to the look of the park and brighten that area considerably.

We have a donor who is willing to fund the entire plant selection, with echinacea, rudbeckia, coreopsis, dense blazing star, sunflowers, purple hyssop etc. and different native grasses. Not only will it hide the unsightly decrepit fence, but will add colour to that drab area and even add winter interest,” said Hall.

Hall asked that the County partner with the WCA so it can provide tax receipts to its donors.

“We love our village, and our park,” said Hall. “We have been so fortunate to have had such a number of community members who have assisted us up until now, but the park project is our biggest venture and we need to be able to assist our very generous donor with a tax receipt and so we are hoping this partnership with the County will allow us to approach future donors to assist us to further beautify the park.”

Mayor Steve Ferguson agreed that the fence was a bit of an eyesore, referencing the current King’s visit to the village in 2017.

“When Camilla was in the park with Charles, and was leaning up against the fence and talking to people it just looked weird,” he said.

Wellington Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer thanked Hall, Reddick and the rest of the Association for the enhancements they have made in the village.

“It has certainly brightened up the space,” said Engelsdorfer. “You have a real knack for making it hard to say no, so kudos to you. I saw you busy in the park today so I am looking forward to seeing what comes of that work as well,” he added.

Engelsdorfer put forward a motion that Council declare the revitalization of Wellington Park a project of community interest for the purposes of receiving donations and issuing of official donation receipts for income tax purposes. The motion carried unanimously.

Hall also added that future plans for the park are for other native plant beds, all strategically located allowing plenty of space for park users, and events, a game of frisbee, or to kick a ball around in.

“We also have a future plan to research converting the now unused merry-go-round into a round and unusual harvest table for families and groups to gather at and share food,” she said. “It is an innovative and creative use of a much loved children’s play structure, that will maintain its character for many years to come.”