It’s more than a new park.
The Westlake-Evans Civic Park will be an active community hub to provide a much-needed recreational space in the city’s core, thanks to a $500,000 gift from the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell.
Monday evening city council approved a $515,000 contract to begin transformation of the vacant lot adjacent to St. Thomas Public Library into an imaginative park.
Jeff Bray, the city’s director of parks, recreation and property management paints a picture of the new park for members of council.
To be located on the site of the former Colin McGregor Justice Building, it is across the street from the new childcare centre now under construction on St. Catharine Street.
Bray explains how the three facilities will interact.
At the announcement of the park in June of 2020 Andrew Gunn, consultant for the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell, noted “there will be an outdoor classroom and play area for children because we really wanted to build a park that spoke to people of all ages.”
St. Thomas Public Library CEO Heather Robinson at the time added, “we’re excited about being able to be part of the animation of this space. This is what libraries do. We have been looking for outdoor space to be able to do programming . . . and just be able to connect with our community in a new way.
“We very much look forward to giving out the keys to the piano and also the ping-pong balls and the paddles. We are really looking forward to animating this space.”
Work is expected to begin this month with a projected opening next spring.
A related story can be found here.
Written by Ian McCallum
