The Bunnies are in the Parks…
Yes, the bunnies are out in the parks … so Easter has its delivery crews in hand!! Wishing you all a fine Easter with good eats, enough chocolate to satisfy, friends and family with whom to celebrate and all wrapped in good weather.
Della Trojan and I are doing an informal stroll this AM, beginning in Cherie Road Park and moving up south. Looking at the litter and Creek blockage issues. Thanks to Bob Rideiger and his crews, two major blockages of the Creek near Ina Grafton have been cleared and some trees reduced or removed. But lots of litter remains to be collected. Special attention will be given the Teens’ hangout off Parnell as some neighbours have asked specifically for attention to that area … with offers to volunteer to assist us and I have asked the Clean City Committee to refer volunteers to us to assist whenever they can. The plan is to use the week of April 23 to 28th to accomplish a complete Clean Sweep of all the Parks. I will have a supply of Pitch In Week garbage bags as of this week.
Looking at possible dates for our Annual Spring Stroll with City Staff. Looking at the week before the Pitch In Week Clean Sweep … and will check with Bob Rideiger, Jim Benson, Stuart Green, Bill Phillips and Dawn Dodge and will let you know what fits for them and hopefully fits for us as well. I will suggest that we do the reverse walk, beginning at the Scott St. end and moving north. You will recall John Hartmnn’s complaint at the last Community meeting that the WCNA doesn’t pay enough attention to that section from Scott through Reality Park … and that’s true … so this is move to educate and satisfy.
John Hartmann reports that there ‘was’ a dead raccoon on the pathway between Regent and Scott and hopefully that will be removed today … but the graffiti in that same area has yet to be cleaned or painted over by a City crew … so a reminder will go out today with new photos. The Doggie Station donated by Karl has been cleaned of its graffiti and he has added a new supply of poop bags … and from the evidence in the half full barrels, these bags are being well used.
RCS has coordinated the development of a new poster that announces the various activities of Community Groups and schedules for Pitch In Week, Earth Day and the events planned for those focus days. The poster is being printed by the City as of yesterday and we get a supply to share with willing stores … I’ll let you know when they are ‘in hand’.
Della Trojan is joining the Malcolmson group as they add their supply of identity tags to their trees … and she will be the source of all needed information so we can also tag our trees. No date for that activity but TBA soon, I hope. We will need to try and coordinate that activity with Mike Fancy as we would like to mark the GPS location of the tagged trees. Speaking of which, our Cucumber tree near IGGV has been ‘frosted … brown bloom ends already.
Please remember the Conversation Cafe on Tuesday of next week … April 10, 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Grantham Lion’s Club. The topic of “Does the Neighbourhood Matter to you?” is pertinent as we seek to increase involvment of friends and members in the Parks and adjacent neighbourhoods. These interesting conversations are fun, pleasant, insightful and a pleasant way to hear what others think as well as share our own perspectives. A fine way to meet new folks, think and soak of what a perfect neighbourhood might look like to you
The letter to Regional Councillor Bruce Timms in regards to extending the Circle Route/Waterfront Trail alongside Lock One and connecting to Malcolmson and WCNA Trails, has been delivered. This is step “A” of what will probably be a “Z” before action is visible. With Regional dollars and a satisfying plan, we can hope this plan may see fruition within our lifetimes??
I’m liking the ‘bandwagon’ of litter collection fostered by Jim Finley and his recent embarrassing videos … if you have viewed both videos, you will see the positive enhancement by groups doing the Clean Sweeps!!
And that’s what keeping me off the streets … think bunnies, kids and grandkids!!
That and the beauty of the renewal … growth of plants … check out the Weeping Willows, colour … can’t help but like the wee blue flowers, wee yellow flowers and the splashes of Daffodils that are in bloom … cherry trees in bloom, the smell of newly cut grass … and the happiness of the many. many dogs who show how this fine weather must be enjoyed deeply in the Parks!!
