New industrial arrivals benefit town ... projects this year bringing more improvements
The Town of Paradise is clearly sharing in the unprecedented progress evident in this Province of late - Mayor Ralph Wiseman, in reviewing some 2012 highlights in the town and looking ahead to this year - remarks that a short eight years ago there were only two buildings on MacNamara Drive where today there are more than 50.
That is only one sign of development in Paradise but there are many others.
The town’s population now stands at 19,000 with the average age 35. The current operating budget is $28.5 million. And as well, the town is currently co-sharing with the Province in some $37.5 million worth of projects.
Yet another sign of good health comes with the steady in-flow of new commercial enterprises. The tax ratio improves as the industrial base increases, easing dependence upon residential tax revenues. In 2005 industry provided 13%. Today it provides 23%.
In this respect, Wiseman noted that “there are 10 buildings under construction right now in our industrial park.”
A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES will be underway this year in Paradise. For one thing, Mayor Wiseman noted that the town had joined with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department and would be constructing a fire station within the municipality - service will become 24/7.
A bidder has been selected for the provision of a double rink arena for Paradise and work on the facility will start this year. An eagerly anticipated addition to the town’s recreation infrastructure, the arena is about to become a reality!
Four-laning work will be undertaken on Karwood Drive to accommo- date the new elementary school there and it is hoped that a new roundabout will be constructed for Kenmount-Karwood.
Water lines from the Trans Canada Highway to Topsail Road will be upgraded as well to increase water volumes.
Some 4.5 million will be spent on five-laning the road from Topsail Road to McNamara Drive west and a further $1.2 million will be spent on St. Thomas’s Line for sidewalks and other upgrades in the vicinity of Holy Family School. Paradise is also considering the completion of the lane on Topsail Road from McDonald’s to Carlisle Street.
Rovers Search & Rescue has moved to Paradise - the Town donated land and the organization raised money to commence construction of a building. It is now completed and up-and-running, the Mayor reports.
The Town has earmarked $3 million to continue parks and recreation work at the old steel mill property where a huge parcel of land - some 256 acres will be set aside as parkland. The Town’s Recreation and Leisure Services Department delivers programs and services that promote healthy, active lifestyles and provide opportunities to socialize. This department maintains and operates all sport and recreation facilities, walking trails, organizes special events and promotes and administers programs for the community. The facilities and programs are designed to meet the needs of all ages. The town partnered with Habitat for humanity to build two new homes in Paradise for deserving families. The town donated the land.
Paradise and Octagon Pond have become the home of dragon boating in Newfoundland and Labrador. In the summer of 2012 the Town played host to the “Paddle in Paradise” dragon boating race, in partnership with the Avalon Dragon Boating Association, at Octagon Pond. The event was back on the pond last summer and Paradise is currently working with the Avalon Dragons who are interested in constructing a boathouse at the pond. The festival will be back on the water at Octagon Pond again this summer. It is a project in aid of breast cancer survivors in Newfoundland and Labrador. This group is the first breast cancer survivor team in North America to build its own dragon boat. Boating started in the spring of 2006. At that time, Newfoundland and Labrador was one of only two provinces without a dragon boating team. From that first meeting, a group of committed volunteers decided to bring the sport to this province.
Also - Paradise is looking forward to having a new elementary school built in the town by the Province. The school is expected to be designed as a junior high so that it can evolved from elementary to junior high when required