Calling it the result of “incredible collaborative efforts” St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston, along with others associated with the project, this morning cut the ribbon to officially open Westlake-Evans Park.
The recreational and cultural hub is located in the city’s core, giving residents another reason to come downtown, stressed Preston.
The new civic space connects St. Thomas Public Library with the recently opened Stationview YMCA Childcare Centre on St. Catharine Street.
The park was first announced in June of 2020 and as observed at the time, it won’t just be a new park for the city, it’s going to be an active community hub that will provide a much-needed recreational space in the city’s core.
Andrew Gunn, consultant for the Bushell Estate which donated $500,000 for the park, praised the transformation of a vacant space into a civic square.
The vacant space formerly was the site of the Colin McGregor Justice Building.
The park includes playground equipment, musical instruments, bike storage lockers, ping-pong tables and green spaces.
Gunn told myFM that seeing the park quickly becoming a destination is “very satisfying.”
Mayor Joe Preston stressed, the downtown park will “provide improved amenities for families and residents for years to come.”
Gunn adds there is one more major feature yet to be added.
As in real estate, it’s all about location and the vacant space proved a natural for the civic park.
A related post can be found here.
