Welland’s own Mower Gang
I’ ve been hearing a considerable amount of Welland-bashing lately. It’s primarily that sort of “You know you’re from Welland when …” joke from residents and media in other Niagara communities who seem to enjoy laughing at the expense of their neighbours. That’s fine, Wellanders are pretty tough. We can take a joke — even one in poor taste.
As tough as the past decades have been for the Rose City, it’s no where near as hard hit as Detroit has been. But in that once proud city — devastated by the same economic pressures that hammered Welland — people still care.
There’s a new gang prowling the streets of the Motor City.
But instead of hearing the rumble of motorcycles as dreaded gang members approach, the members of this gang have opted for another kind of thundering beast to ride — lawnmowers. And the only thing that needs to fear their approach is waist- high grass that has been left to grow on public parks, left abandoned by the shrinking city.
The Detroit Mower Gang was formed in the summer of 2010, and they’re still at it five years later.
“Pow! The Detroit Mower Gang kicks grass all over the abandoned parks of Detroit,” the gang members wrote on their Facebook Page. “We put horsepower to the ground and keep old playgrounds mowed so that Detroit’s kids have a place to play. Anyone is welcome.”
That’s what can happen when the people of a community refuse to give up, long after governments and corporations have turned their back. The Detroit Mower Gang is an example of people taking ownership of their city and doing what needs to be done.
Welland may have just dodged a very similar bullet.
The recent funding feud between city council and Welland Recreational Canal Corp. led to warning signs posted along the recreational canal throughout the city, telling people to use the trails and parks at their own risk because WRCC could no longer afford to maintain the property.
The city is now working to approve a $ 475,000 budget for WRCC, which should provide enough funding to allow the organization to perform its mandated functions — including cutting the grass on the 12 km of mostly parkland along the canal.
But for the past few weeks while those signs were in place, there was a lot of anger, fear and doubt in the city. And during that time, Welland began to see that same spirit demonstrated by the Detroit Mower Gang.
We heard about one couple that ventured out onto Merritt Island, arguably the city’s most beautiful park, to clear trees that fell across the Willow Trail. They even used a hand saw to cut down a few other trees they feared would fall after their trunks were gnawed away by beavers.
But the sense of community pride and ownership that inspired that couple to take action is shared by many other residents of this community. Rose City residents are ready to pitch in and do what they can for their community.
Today, more than 100 Welland residents are expected to spend a few hours cleaning up Welland’s downtown core in an event organized by Project: Downtown.
They’re meeting beside Main Street Bridge at 10 a. m., with equipment and supplies donated by individuals as well as Welland’s RONA store and local firefighters.
Just like the members of the Detroit Mower Gang, the people participating in that clean up are taking ownership of their city and doing what needs to be done.
After being the butt of jokes for too long, it’s comforting and inspiring to see that people in this community have not lost hope or the will to make their home a little better. And that may be something we can all laugh about.