By Donna Kearns
Bingham Park started off the summer season on a positive note, with City of Ottawa Park Maintenance crew removing all the winter debris, raking and cleaning the Dalhousie side of the park as soon as the snow cleared. The previous year’s donations of a playground climbing structure along with several benches and games tables were in use straight away.
In May, with support once again from Chance Foundation, Royal Bank and the Lowertown Community Association, volunteers continued the good work with a garden event. We prepared two dedicated beds, one under the tree beside the wading pool and a second at the corner of Cathcart and Dalhousie. Plantings included several roses, a beautiful Morden Blush, a double pink peony, columnar cedars, several varieties of grasses, climbing hydrangea, coral bells and a beautiful lily donated by Michelle Ramsay.
On the same day as the garden event, water main replacement on Cathcart St. began, along with road resurfacing and widening sidewalks The target ompletion date for this work is end of September. Access to the park was often limited, with dust and noise keeping attendance down during the day. However, by late afternoon, everyone came back in force. The tennis courts were hopping, and the playground full of children. The recently donated toys for the sandbox were much appreciated. Many thanks to the anonymous donor.
The wading pool was, as usual, the focus of activities in the playground through the summer. Three to four City of Ottawa summer students were on hand each day to supervise children and to provide arts and crafts supplies. The Public Art installation planned for the Dalhousie side of Bingham Park has begun with the preparatory holes dug for fence posts. A staggering number of boulders slowed down progress, but as of mid-September, the concrete has been poured and we await Carne Cunnae’s wonderful artwork installation.
The second stage will commence in October. As the summer season winds down, we can look forward to the skating rink and the dedicated volunteers who keep the ice in great shape. If you are able to help with maintaining the ice this winter, please contact our rink volunteer leader Justin at j.s.dyet@gmail.com