By Christine Kilfoil
“If you have found a quiet bench in a quiet park and sat down, be sure you had a very profitable day!”
― Mehmet Murat
Parks have been described as the soul of a city. Lowertown is blessed with five parks, Bingham Park, Bordeleau Park, Cathcart Park, Jules Morin Park and McDonald Gardens Park. In addition to play structures, public benches and greenspace, our parks includes a working dock for canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding, a baseball diamond, , basketball court, tennis courts, a dog park and winter sliding and skating rink.
The parks of Lowertown have been a lifeline for residents, allowing them to de-stress, connect with others and engage in recreation. Many in Lowertown who may not have a backyard space or just need to get out of their private spaces and be around others are seeing these parks with fresh eyes since the pandemic began. For example, did we notice before that Bordeleau Park, which runs along the Rideau River, has some of the most beautiful views of the river in the city. As Ralph Waldo Emmerson said, “In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.”
Photo: Christine Kilfoil
The pandemic has prompted a rebirth of the public space in Lowertown. It is not that the parks were not used before the pandemic, but it is likely that we failed to really appreciate them. Residents of Lowertown have learned the value of the public spaces in our neighborhood because they have been there for us during this difficult moment in history. The parks offer us the chance to stroll and enjoy nature, walk our dogs, exercise, play, picnic, or just sit on a bench and watch the world go by. And for those who are living in crowded spaces, the park offers solitude and quiet contemplation. As Magic Johnson once said: “I like to take walks in the park by myself, where no one can bother me and I can think.”
The parks also offer something more intangible but necessary to our very survival as human beings: social connection. It may be as simple as a nod to our neighbor as we pass each other in the park, or a meeting of the eyes, a” good morning” or “hello”. Each time it happens, the interaction leaves us a little less isolated and our step becomes, for that moment, a little lighter.
And then there are the “squads”. Younger people refer to their squads, a slang term meaning their gang of friends. It can be a diverse group who share a common interest.
It is not hard to miss the pockets of people who gather in the parks around benches and picnic tables, escaping their rooms, apartments, condos, and homes to spend time with others in the park. Bingham Park has a squad who can be found each day at the far corner of the park gathered around the bench and picnic table. Lowertown Residents Karen Grant, Claude Aubin and Bob Dagnais drop by as often as they can to share some time with old and new friends. It is a welcoming group where people can connect and spend time getting to know their neighbors. As explained by Karen Grant, “Some of us live alone and its nice to know there is somewhere we can go to be with other people”.
It has been said that you can tell the essence of a neighborhood by observing the people who use its parks. The people and the squads who are using the Lowertown parks during this pandemic demonstrate the openness and caring nature of Lowertown and its people.