Over two hundred people gathered at the Capital Centre on Wednesday evening for an update on the Community Waterfront Park which was made by the Community Waterfront Friends (CWF) and to witness the launch of a million dollar fund raising campaign.
Over two hundred people gathered at the Capital Centre on Wednesday evening for an update on the Community Waterfront Park which was made by the Community Waterfront Friends (CWF) and to witness the launch of a million dollar fund raising campaign. The audience was left inspired by the presentation, which detailed final plans of the CWF's long-term vision of the park that will continue to be "an incentive for economical, social and environmental growth for the city and area at large".
The project began its inception fourteen years ago and has so far cost over one hundred million dollars to implement.
Dr. Rod Johnston, Chair of the CWF, said that the park is extremely important in terms of city growth and will ultimately affect the future of North Bay. He firmly states that the 6.2 million dollar phase of the project cannot continue if one million dollars is not first received through community fund raising.
The fund raising campaign offers a heartfelt opportunity to honour ordinary people who have been extraordinary. A permanent metal pergola, located at the Oak Street entrance to the park, will provide a growing canopy of engraved metal leaves, cross-referenced with stories of the honourees.
For five hundred dollars, a metal leaf, engraved with the name of the buyer's honouree, will affix to the pergola, along with a story which will appear on line, in perpetuity and will be on continual display at the museum.
Dr. Johnston thinks that the pergola is the perfect way to raise funds and to honour those of past and present.
"Well, I think that if we tried to raise a million dollars with no frills, then it would be much more difficult. But what's happening is as people are adopting leaves and naming them and coming up with stories that really tug at the heart. They're packed with emotion when you read the stories and see who's involved and why people have dedicated them to. Some of the people that they have been choosing is someone who has inspired them or changed their lives or changed their direction in life. Those stories are amazing as well."
Mayor Elect Al McDonald, who will be sworn into office in a few weeks, says that he is impressed by the CWF's vision and by the proven determination of its members.
"It's incredible. This project has been on the go for fourteen years when Jack Burrows made the decision to bring it under public ownership. The Community Waterfront Friends has helped volunteer this group for twelve years, trying to put this vision together. They've run into so many roadblocks and issues but they never stopped trying. My hat goes off to them."
"The community is going to be so much better for it."
As far as elaborate spending during tough economic times is concerned, the soon to be Mayor of North Bay thinks that the money is being well spent.
"Yes, it costs money but anybody in business knows that you have to make investments and the amount of money that's being invested in the waterfront will be returned thirty fold on the amount of assessment around. A perfect example of this is Oak Street. You can already begin to see the returns coming in from that kind of investment".
Former Mayor Jack Burrows, who was involved in the early part of the Waterfront Development and saw the potential of such choice property, says that he is delighted by the progress being made and looks forward to seeing the finished project.
"It's been a long time in the making", he said.
Mark Schollen, a landscape architect on the project who has done work for cities such as Shanghai, says that he was inspired by the both the local landscape and the people of North Bay. He is convinced that once completed, the project will forever change the city for the better.
"All the waterfront projects that we've had has made a huge impact on the structure of the city. It's not just a park, it's an economic development", Schollen says.
"We wanted to build a park that was unique to North Bay, to be able to cater to everyone in the city, provide amenities for kids, for young adults and seniors and really bring the people together in a place that they can really enjoy. I think that, in the end, it will do just that".
*For further information and on line leaves purchasing please visit www.waterfrontpergola.ca*
