Business community asked to step up
Individuals and fishermen also invited to accept the challenge to support Barrington Leisure Park Association
The challenge is on and is being accepted by local businesses, fishermen and individuals to support the Barrington Leisure Park Association with a financial donation.
Barrington Passage businesswoman Kelly Nickerson kickstarted the social media campaign on March 5 with a $1,000 donation and a challenge to other businesses to contribute what they can to help get the project off the ground.
“It’s a very expensive project,” said Nickerson. “There’s limited funds available to us. Certainly, the municipality does not have a tax base as big as larger areas that are talking about doing skateparks and splash pads.”
Nickerson is hoping the campaign will raise $500,000.
“I think it can be done. I see no reason why it can’t. Realistically, Barrington and the surrounding area have always been very generous when it comes to fundraising, especially when you’re talking about a permanent fixture within the community that you can look at and admire and appreciate every day.”
Last fall, the Barrington Leisure Park Association took ownership of just over one acre of land in the centre of the Barrington Passage business district. The land, donated in memory of Mario R. Cormier, was once the site of the Victoria Hotel. Besides frontage on Highway 3, the property borders on the Barrington Passage multi-use trail at the rear.
Since then, years of briars and alders overgrowth have been cleared to reveal a large
pad of pavement that was once a parking lot on one section of the property.
“We’re very fortunate to get a piece of land that has this hidden gem,” said Dan Dennis, association volunteer. “We’ve got this great, great pavement that I didn’t even know existed. It’s in such good shape, such a big pad and big area, why not use it to our advantage?”
For the short-term, Dennis said he is focused on getting a ramp or a set of ramps that can be used for the time being and that the kids can enjoy until the full project gets underway. Currently, the association is looking for a donation of a ramp or ramps, and or materials to build some, as well as picnic tables, benches and garbage cans.
“If anybody has any old ramps maybe from a skatepark that has closed down, or something kicking around the basement that they bought their kids to use at one time and never did or that they’re not using, (the association would love to hear from them)," said Krista Kenney, fundraising lead for the association.
“Obviously we have to wait until we hear back from a grant and get some more fundraising on the go before we can actually design the park and start,” said Kenney. “Once the weather gets nicer, I suspect the kids are going to start coming here and hanging out a lot and we would just like for them to have a nice area to be.
The ultimate goal is to have a full scope park like you see in Liverpool and around, with the bowls and stuff. Basically, we have to come up with money to hire the design team. They will design it and go from there.”
The end goal isn’t the only focus of the association, said Kenney.
“Right now, we want to get this started because we have all these kids hanging around at the businesses in Barrington and we have nowhere for them to go," she said.
There is still more clearing to do on the rear of the property.
“It’s a big enough piece of land, we would like to make a walking trail around it to connect to the existing trail. There will also be lot of green space where we can put soccer nets, badminton nets, a place to throw a frisbee, a picnic area, a gazebo…we want to add a splash pad but that’s going to take major funding so it’s not going to happen right away but it is one of our goals for sure,” said Kenney, adding there is also consideration being given to developing a natural playground in the future.
“The next step is ramps for sure,” added Dennis. “Once we get that, the sky’s the limit. Barbecues, live music, the churches want to be involved. They plan on bringing the children for events… Anybody can use it.”
The Barrington Leisure Park Association has been getting good support from the community, said Evelyn Brannen, association treasurer.
“We don’t have to work very hard for public support, it’s there,” she said.
Brannen said the association is in the process of applying for a recreation development grant. In the meantime, it will have an on-going fundraiser at the park. A large bin has been placed there where people can drop off their refundable bottles. In less than a week, more than 2,000 refundable bottles were donated.
There is also a raffle draw underway for a basket of hair and tanning supplies worth $500, put together by Autumn Hatfield at Coastal Hair Styling. Tickets are $2 each or three for $5 and are available at Coastal Hair Styling or any member of the Barrington Leisure Park Association.
Kenney said the association is always looking for people to help out in any way they are able. The Barrington Leisure Park Association can be contacted via Facebook.