Ward 1 residents ask for more green spaces

Greening Ward 1 in the city’s West End has become a rallying cry for residents.

Last year the Ward 1 Community Action Network (CAN) was able to initiate three planting projects involving flower beds, trees and grass to enhance the visual appeal of the area of Lorne Street, from Martindale Road to beyond the Maslack Mall, Tom Murphy, Ward 1 CAN chair, noted. He told Northern Life last fall that residents he talked to were pleased with the new greenery along the major road artery.

Now the community group is opting to organize a community garden at Delki Dozzi Community Park and Playground, on Mary Street.

“The Ward 1 Community Action Network (CAN) held an envisioning workshop in November,” Colleen Zilio said.

About 60 people brainstormed how to improve their ward. One overall theme that kept popping up was to have more greening projects.” She is the fundraising chair of the Ward 1 CAN.

“Currently we are working to establish a community food garden at the Delki Dozzi Park site,” Zilio said. At an initial meeting of a citizens committee Jan. 19, a sloped area to the right of the parking lot was discussed as a prime spot for the garden.

Zilio said the intent was to gather wide support in the local community for the project.

“We are specifically targeting the involvement of youth, seniors and the physically handicapped. This garden will also use technology to implement and demonstrate water conservation and continuous monitoring of plant growth and growing conditions such as soil moisture and temperature,” Zilio added.

Ginette Forget-Rose, City of Greater Sudbury community development co-ordinator, said the Gatchell area has many backyard gardens and a host of expert gardeners who could help to make the project appeal to a wide variety of citizens, from seniors to youth.

One way youth could be involved would be to make available the results of electronic garden monitoring (sensors would be installed by the plants) through websites like Facebook.

Ward One Coun. Joe Cimino said using advanced technology and the internet was key to involve youth.

“Technology will get the kids,” Cimino said.

“Encouraging youth to participate is vital to ensure the sustainability of the garden.”

Partnerships with local businesses, social service organizations and schools in the ward are being explored, said Zilio.

Garden organizers were to make a presentation Jan. 20 to members of the policy committee of city council at Tom Davies Square as part of an update on Ward 1 activities, said Cimino. “This garden will come to fruition beginning this summer,” Cimino added.

Zilio is looking for more gardeners or those who are interested in the project to attend regular meetings every two weeks to get the project moving before spring.

For more information, visit www.ward1can.com, contact Zilio at [email protected] or phone 677-7011.