Tonight City staff will announce that a splash pad, field house and many improvements will be made to Ed Blake Park in 2010. This is a dream come true for so many children and families in the Kipps Lane Huron- Boullee corridor.
It's a dream come true for me too. I have lived here for ten years and longed for the day when kids in this area had something of their own that they could be proud of.
Ward 4 Councillor Stephen Orser deserves to take a bow. He fought for the stimulus money that is now landing in the north end of Ward 4 in Ed Blake Park. He attended the April 1, 2008 community meeting regarding Ed Blake Park where the community made it clear that they wanted a splash park even though City staff were cool to the idea. I covered the meeting for a local paper.
Ward 4 Councillor Stephen Orser
Councillor Orser was the one who got the necessary support on City Council for the Splash Pad and improvements to Ed Blake Park. There was fierce competition for the funds which are supporting these projects. The cost of the improvements are being split evenly between the Federal, Provincial and City of London governments.
I won't be at this meeting. It was made clear to me that I was not welcome. I am thrilled that the kids and youth in the Kipps Lane - Huron Boullee corridor are finally getting a place to cool off in the summer. The work that I have done on Kipps Lane with the Kipps Lane Community Association was never about me.
While it is not my place to dedicate anything to anyone I sincerely hope the memory of the young boy whodrowned in the Thames in 2001 trying to cool off is remembered tonight. I didn't know him or his family but his memory inspired me to work for projects like the splash pad.
I talked with Stephen about Ed Blake Park and the need for a splash pad and other recreation facilities when he was running for City Council. He delivered. That should not be forgotten.
He did the part of the job that I don't have the abilities or position to accomplish.
