‘A labour of love’
Volunteer group glad community enjoys Chamberlains Park
It’s a busy spot on Topsail Road in Conception Bay South, with traffic coming from each direction on Route 60.
But pull off on a small gravel parking lot at 2608 Topsail Rd. in Chamberlains and you’ll find the entrance to a quiet, little-known trail that many residents consider a little piece of heaven in the middle of town.
Chamberlains Park is a lush 16-acre green space with a walking trail that guides you through one kilometre of some of the most beautiful displays of nature in the region.
Six-feet-wide boardwalks, bridges and gravel walkways lead visitors through diverse flora and fauna, trickling brooks, a hillside garden and a spacious grassy area with picnic tables, while the chirps, pecks and quacks of a wide array of birds can be heard.
Hundreds of people take to the trail each week.
With the sun sporadically peeking through the clouds, a 10-degree afternoon was perfect for a walk-through with two people who, along with six others, were instrumental in designing and creating the park — Geoff Kearley and his wife, Elizabeth Kearley, the chairperson and a director of the Chamberlains Park Action Committee, respectively.
“So much work has gone into this … and we’re just so happy to see so many people from the community enjoying it, and others too,” said Elizabeth, adding that the couple takes vacation time each year to do work at the park.
“People come from kilometres away to visit here . ... It doesn’t feel like you’re in the middle of C.B.S.”
With such meticulous detail of design work and attention given to the placement of each rock, tree, bush and flower, one would assume the work was completed by a highly esteemed, professional landscaping company.
But every one of the tens of thousands of boards nailed, holes dug, plants and flowers planted, rocks placed and gravel path laid were all done by the hands of committee members and other volunteers.
With the sheer love of their community and determination to create something beautiful for everyone to enjoy, the volunteers spent close to two years lugging large rocks (some several hundred pounds) across bog, pushing wheelbarrows full of gravel and topsoil over laid pallets and boards, pulling sleds with materials and tools through the snow and heaving picks, shovels and rakes.
“It’s been a real labour of love,” Elizabeth said. “It’s truly been a community effort.”
Though the park officially opened in 2014, initial plans began years before, when Geoff was approached by the town for an idea for a park on the site.
The space is particularly special for him, as he grew up across the street on Chaytor’s Road and spent many hours there as a child.
“When I was a kid, this was impenetrable because it was waist-deep mire,” said Geoff, noting the land was donated by the Irving family.
“It was farmland and pasture for 100 years.”
The newly formed committee started in 2008 with a $300-budget, donated by the town. Since then, they’ve partnered with the town which allowed the committee to work independently.
“We sometimes act like this is our own backyards and care for it the same way” Elizabeth said.
Along with the initial funding from the town and the provincial government, everything needed for the park came from donations from local businesses, service organizations, groups and citizens — from the Friendship Garden and the bridge (which came from the far west end of Quidi Vidi Lake) to the outdoor classroom and the Free Little Library.
Groups such as the Conservation Corp Green Team, children’s sports teams, school groups, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and Sparks, and neighbours and other residents also chipped in money, or donated trees or plants or their time to help.
“By involving people in the community, it makes them feel like they’re part of (the park) and have some responsibility for it,” Elizabeth said, stopping to pick up pieces of trash and twigs.
Several dogwalkers, adults, teens and young children, walk through on this day, with most voicing greetings as they pass by at a safe distance.
“We walk here every day,” said Cassandra Combden of Topsail. “It really makes you feel like you’re out of the city.”
The trail is wheelchair friendly, with most of it at a 10 per cent or less grade. There are also bumpers for safety and frequent benches for resting. Many community events are held at the park. Geoff’s daughter was married there in 2018.
But there’s still plenty left to be done. The second phase of the trail is not finished, with about 200 feet of floating boardwalk left to be done to make it a complete loop.
“Look how close we are,” Geoff said, pointing across the bog to a bridge by the parking lot near the entrance.
They hope, with some help, to finish it by mid-summer. Once connected, the main trail will measure exactly one kilometre.
Conception Bay South Mayor Terry French later told The Telegram, “Chamberlains Park is certainly one of the hidden gems in the community.”