An enthusiastic group of tree planters joined Mayor Steve Ferguson for the official opening of Macaulay Village Park on Saturday June 15, 2024.
After a successful planting party last fall, and the installation of new park equipment, we had one more day of planting to complete the community vision for the beautifully redesigned park on London Avenue. About two dozen people picked up a shovel to plant trees, including the mayor and Picton Councillor Phil St-Jean, members of the County Parks & Rec department, employees of the TD Bank Picton branch and Prince Edward Learning Centre, and community residents.
“This park has come to life through the voices of the residents who live here, and who want a place to gather…. This park is packed. This structure was put in in November and it didn’t matter, the weather, nothing stopped it. It was full of kids, which was amazing for us to see.”
PELC Essential Skills Coordinator Jennifer Hunter
On behalf of PELC, Essential Skills Coordinator Jennifer Hunter received a giant cheque for a grant from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, which helped purchase native trees for the park. The park also received a generous donation of native trees by Edwin County Farms, as well as support from Trees for PEC, which includes the PEC Master Gardeners, PEC Horticultural Society, Tree the County and PEC Field Naturalists.
Jenn acknowledged many generous donations and community contributions leading to the landscaping and installation of a new shade structure for the park, including United Way Hastings & Prince Edward, the Kinsmen of Picton, County Homes, Devries Site Services, Built Wright Landscape Construction, Silkstone Group, Dibbits Landscape Supply, Greenman Tree Services, Taskforce Engineering, Terra Vista Landscaping, VTLA Studio, Prince Edward Learning Centre, and members of the Heights community, who are the heart of the park revitalization initiative.
The Macaulay Village Park plan was developed with community input and guidance from Victoria Taylor and Bailey Austin Macmillan of VTLA Studio. They also worked closely with County arborists Cody Lowe and Albert Paschkowiak to choose the best native trees for the site. Saturday’s planting included a miniature forest using the Miyawaki method, which Lowe explained:
“It’s basically taking a full-sized forest with all of its layers – canopy, sub-canopy and shrub level – and condensing it into one small area. You get the full benefits of a forest in a parkland like this. All the trees are going to compete naturally. The trees will seed, and this forest will continually grow on its own.”
County arborist Cory Lowe
A new community sign donated by the Kinsmen has also been installed, next to the community garden beds, rebuilt by PELC Essential Skills Summer Instructor Tori Farquhar and Administrative Coordinator Christine Chapman, which are now fully planted.
Saturday’s opening ceremonies concluded with remarks and congratulations from the mayor, who acknowledged County staff and the many volunteers who developed the “immense potential” of the park into the community resource it is today.
“I’m most appreciative of the opportunity to come and see this actually become a reality…. This is what Prince Edward County does so beautifully and so well. When there’s a need, people gather, figure out how to address the need, pitch in, and this becomes a reality. Congratulations!”
PEC Mayor Steve Ferguson
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