BY KEITH LACEY
A group of committed, hard working citizens are thrilled with the progress being made on what they hope will become one of this cityÂ?s most used park and trail systems.
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In 1999, the Rotary Club of Sudbury celebrated its 75th anniversary and wanted to get involved in a project to commemorate this milestone and the change of millennium.
They joined forces with the Rotary Club of Sudbury Sunrisers to promote the idea of Rotary Park.
The idea was to use Â?sweat equityÂ? and get community partners on board to help pay for some of the costs to build a scenic and attractive park from near Barrydowne Arena all the way downtown.
Vicki Smith-Danyliw and Brian Smith, of the Rotary Sunrisers and Rotary Club of Sudbury, respectively, told members of city councilsÂ? Priorities Committee Wednesday the project is going ahead full steam and the people of this community are going to be thrilled with whatÂ?s going on.
The idea of Rotary Park would be to provide a tangible legacy for Rotarians in Sudbury, beautify an area of this city that needed it and give something back to the community that has supported Rotary projects for almost eight decades, said Smith-Danyliw.
Fundraising began soon after the idea came about and a commitment was made to build a park and trail system.
The city approached the Rotary Club and asked them to consider the Adanac Park site near Barrydowne Arena and Adanac ski hill and they agreed.
City staff and consultants have worked together over the past five years to come up with a preliminary master plan for the vacant land between the ski hill in New Sudbury and Mountain Street downtown as well as playgrounds contained in this area, she said.
In 2001, Rotarians agreed to take on the project as long as the park would be named Rotary Park and Rotarians would have input and influence over how the park was built, she said.
Work began in earnest in July of 2001 with Rotarians, other volunteers, neighbours and city staff participating.
Phase One of the trail system consists of the construction and development of four main trails with accepted standards each trail be cleared 12 feet wide, 10 feet high, with a finished foot path eight feet wide.
Cambrian College and Lopes Mechanical agreed to build a steel frame bridge and wood decking and this was completed last summer.
Another 150-foot long boardwalk was also completed late last summer.
A total of 20,000 pine seedlings have been planted by local Boy Scouts, and gardens have been planted on numerous parts of the trail system.
SudburyÂ?s Vegetation Enhancement Technical Advisory Committee (VETAC) planted 5,000 seedlings last summer and will plant another 4000-5,000 this year.
Ideas, partnerships and funding will be sought for park components such as soccer fields, in-line skating track, winter skating track, skateboarding area, cross-country ski trails, a running track and childrenÂ?s playground, she said.
Lookout points, washrooms and rest stops will also be constructed as part of the project.
Brian Smith said the two dozen partners involved deserve to share a great deal of credit for getting involved in a project where so many citizens will be able to access and use a beautiful, public park free of charge.
Â?This is a shining example of how successful a private/public partnership can be,Â? he said.
The Rotary Club and Rotary Sunrisers were disappointed they werenÂ?t involved in the city budget discussions which resulted in the closing of Barrydowne Arena and Adanac Ski Hill, said Smith.
Any decision that ultimately affects the continuing construction of Rotary Park should be brought to the attention of both organizations in the future, he said.
Councillor Dave Courtemanche said this project is a huge success and shows what hard work and commitment by so many people can accomplish to improve the quality of life for members of this community.
Construction of Rotary Park is scheduled to continue for the next several summers.
