Update Nov. 29/16
Council voted in favour of a motion Monday evening to support the Friends of John Kennedy Memorial Park’s application to name the creek running through John Kennedy Memorial Park. The motion supports the group’s application “to have the creek with headwaters on the top of Thibault Terrace, running through John Kennedy Memorial Park and into Lake Nipissing … named ‘John Coffman Creek’”.
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Original story.
The Friends of John Kennedy Memorial Park (JKMP) have created a new website to accompany their Facebook page in an effort to save a neighbourhood park.
The website focuses upon a booklet created by a former resident of North Bay, John Coffman, who lived at the corner of Parkwood and Maplegrove Drive.
Coffman took great interest in documenting plants and wildlife found in the park, and now the goup wants to honour his contributions by naming a small creek after him.
"His diligence in documenting the flora and fauna of this area is to be commended. Currently we are making application to the Ministry of Natural Resources regarding this proposal," says a news release.
In 2004, Coffman presented a booklet to many residents who were attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Kennedy Family and former mayor Vic Fedeli. His booklet is entitled “A Small Biological Guide to The John Kennedy Memorial Park”.
An educational resource documenting the plants and wildlife inhabiting this natural greenspace is included on the website.
Monday night the group will make a presentation to council to thank members for their support.
"The city and the Pinewood residents have had to struggle in 2001, 2004 and 2016 to save our parkland from clear cutting. We appreciate your help and on- going support. We must all find a way to create a permanent designation for this city treasure forever. Time spent in natural settings reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and boosts the immune system," says the submission.
Councillor Mark King already has a resolution prepared.
"Be It Resolved that the City of North Bay supports the Friends of John Kennedy Memorial Park in their application to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change to have the creek with headwaters on the top of Thibault Terrace, running through John Kennedy Memorial Park and into Lake Nipissing, to have the creek named 'John Coffman Creek'."
