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Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Town to look at Centennial Park options By Ron Giofu
Amherstburg town council wants to keep its options open as it pertains to Centennial Park. Town council voted 3-2 to rezone the northern 12 acres of Centennial Park and consider various options for the site. Voting in favour were Deputy Mayor Leo Meloche and councillors Patricia Simone and Don McArthur while councillors Michael Prue and Marc Renaud were opposed. Mayor Aldo DiCarlo declared a conflict due to the location of his home to both Jack Purdie Park and Centennial Park, the former also being discussed Monday night. Councillor Peter Courtney also declared conflict but only on one of the four options presented by administration, that being to look at rezoning the lands. In the process, council also defeated a motion by Prue to leave it as an athletic and heritage park. Prue, Renaud and Courtney voted for that while McArthur, Simone and Meloche were opposed. The motion lost on a tie vote. McArthur wanted a “fulsome discussion” on all options and believed council had a “fiduciary option” to do so. He noted the S. Ralph McCurdy Track and Russell Renaud Hill have value to the town but wanted all options explored, adding a track and football field could be added on lands dedicated for it next to the new public high school on the southern 15 acres of Centennial Park. The town has also done “jack squat” to build a new pool, McArthur added, and they need the money to replace it and other amenities. He added he was frustrated at the “sorry state” of repairs that Centennial Park fell into, but said not all of the amenities that were torn out like baseball diamonds and other features can be put on the remaining 12 acres so he wanted to see all options and what visions administration may have. “We need money and it’s not all going to fit there,” said McArthur. “We need to have a plan, come up with a vision and take it to the people. We need to show both sides of the coin, both sides of the equation in order to have a real discussion on this.” Renaud agreed there is “not going to be room for
Mike and son Matthew Mady head down the hill at Centennial Park on their sled Sunday afternoon. Town council wants all options explored as it pertains to the future of the park, they decided Monday night. RTT Photo by Ron Giofu
everything” but was open to seeing multiple concepts for what will go at the park. Councillor Patricia Simone said she grew up across the street from Centennial Park and has many memories but noted many of the amenities have been displaced because of the new public high school. Prue said he was opposed to any idea of selling land at Centennial Park for housing and believed that wasn’t the location for it. He cited the history of the park and the work put into it by H. Murray Smith, for whom the park was named, as well as S. Ralph McCurdy and Russell Renaud. He said that is why he also wanted it to be a heritage park as well as an athletic park.
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The location to at least three local schools was another reason Prue said he wanted to retain it. He added he has been “overwhelmed” with public feedback. “They all want to retain the park,” said Prue. “They all want to retain it because they have a sense of history about the place.” Courtney gave an impassioned speech about the lands, also pointing out its proximity to local schools. He said “we have to calm the waters” and let people know it will remain parkland, adding thousands have signed a petition wanting the 12 acres to stay as parkland. Continued on Page 2
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