By Pepper Parr
November 6th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
What would Spencer Smith think if he could see what they have done to the park he created?
The willow trees that he planted 70 years ago are gone.
This is the Gazebo that was.
The Gazebo that used to be on the waterfront is gone too.
Come the Spring the eastern end of the park will have a much different look. There will be a new concrete pathway that will wind from the beginning of the Naval Promenade to the back of the new Gazebo and loop back to the Promenade
This is the |Gazebo your city i in the process of constructing for you.
New trees have been planted. In a couple of years we will have forgotten what it used to look like and the trunks of those willow will have been turned into table tops. Maybe some of the wood carvers at the Art Gallery will fashion a desk that will sit in the office of the Mayor.
This is where the new Gazebo is gong to be built – it looks like it will be quite a bit bigger.
Spencer Smith would probably approve of that.
There are a couple of hundreds clippings taken from the willow trees that were cut down – they will be handed out to people in the Spring.
All good stuff – but where was the public input in all this. Remember – this government was going to be transparent – they were going to include you the tax payer.
We didn’t see any drawings for the new east end of the park with different ideas the public could comment on.
The landscape architects just went ahead and did it because they could.
This is one of the scenes you get to enjoy from the park. while Burlington isn’t a port city – Hamilton is a large inland port and everything that sails into Hamilton sails by Burlington.
That is not healthy civic government.
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Interesting point, Julie, but it still is a very nice park to be at on a nice day. We are fortunate to already have a Botanical Garden in the west end of the city. It appears from the drawing that they are adding some plants behind the gazebo by the walking path and a few more trees(tulips, lilies, red maples). If they do go more Botanical, as you suggest: native species please (and preferably drought-tolerant); City should be setting an example on this.
Keep in mind that the park is also used for some pretty impressive festivals and events in the spring/summer where just about every piece of real estate is occupied. The City and Halton Region must balance attractiveness with practical needs. I think they’re doing a decent job at it. The park has improved much in my lifetime in Burlington. A few more trees could help, as the shade real estate at events on hot summer days is at a premium.
There will be another enhancement to the west side of the park through Canada 150 funding (https://www.burlingtongazette.ca/first-of-the-sesquicentennial-projects-with-money-attached-to-it-arrives-in-burlington-spencer-smith-park-to-benefit/)
There are further enhancements planned under the whole Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Plan encompassing Spencer Smith and Beachway Park (https://www.halton.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=8310&pageId=104860)
Both Halton Region and the City of Burlington are involved in the design of the park. There have been public consultations in the past; “It included an informal walk-around session that provided residents with an opportunity to contribute their thoughts and design ideas on the draft Master Plan.”
Input from citizens not required. Ask Burlingtonians how they feel about the pier. That park should be so much more than it is,!an expanse of green lawn. A city that has Botanical Gardens, Spencer Smith could be a carefully designed space with tiered flower beds and beautiful trees.. I would suggest they look at what Windsor did with their gardens alongside the Detroit River. Old railway lines and yards have been turned into beautiful garden areas with plenty of green space but an oasis for people to go to. spencer Smith is no more than a walkin path at the moment. Be creative, turn it iinto a beautiful garden where people will truly stop and smell the flowers.