East Ottawa Star
Published: Friday, June 19, 2009 More than just a park name This past weekend the Cardinal Creek Community Association (CCCA) held its first, and let’s hope annual, fun day. Thanks to great community and corporate support, perfect weather and a fabulous turnout, it was a resounding success. Kudos to the CCCA executive and its committed base of volunteers. The most poignant part of the day was unveiling the name of their park on Valin east of Trim Road, which is now called Glandriel Park in homage to its perpendicular cross-street. The naming of the park was the result of a community contest with 21 submissions received. And the winning name came from a five-year-old girl; good on her. Which got me to thinking that many of our parks – built last year or 30 years ago – have a history of their own to tell. There are over 150 parks and parkettes in the east end and most of them are named after the streets on which they are found, such as Bilberry, Decarie, Gardenway, Grey Nuns, Kinsella, Princess Louise, Scalla, Varennes and Watters. Others are named for our communities (think Fallingbrook or Queenswood Ridge) or a larger-than-life Canadian hero like Terry Fox. A few parks symbolize touchstones of our shared local history. Take Rancourt Park in Avalon South, for example. The Rancourt family has a rich history in the Orléans area, dating back to 1892 when Prosper Rancourt and his wife, Arthémise Desaulniers, bought a farm at the intersection of what is now Innes and Trim roads. Fast forward to 2009 and the Rancourt’s descendants still live in the vicinity of this original purchase. So Rancourt Park honours the family’s historical significance to the settlement of this area. We also have Stuemer Park on Petrie Island that commemorates the legacy of the Northern Magic sailing adventure around the world. As you may remember, between 1997 and 2001, Diane Stuemer, her husband Herbert, and their three children, spent four years travelling around the world in The Northern Magic. They visited 34 countries and established charitable projects in both Africa and Asia. Upon their return, Mrs. Stuemer became an engaging motivational speaker. Sadly, Diane passed away from cancer in March of 2003. Their global journey began and ended at Petrie Island, so Stuemer Park is a fitting tribute to her and her family. There are other parks with similar tales, global and local to inspire us. Marsha’s Park on Lawnsberry Drive in Chatelaine Village is a treasure. You need to go and read the simple plaque to understand what a park can mean to one person. So the next time you find yourself in Marcel Lalande Park on Northlands Drive in Fallingbrook, Joe Jamieson Park on Bilberry Drive in Orléans Woods or Mystery Park on Orléans Boulevard down by the river, or whatever park you may visit, take a moment to seek out the sign or plaque and learn why it is there ... and enjoy. = = = = = Comments can be sent to Walter Robinson at orleansouttakes@transcontinental.ca. |