Willistead Test Track to Host Art in The Park

Residents of Old Walkerville and users of Willistead Park are furious with the City of Windsor's decision to build a ten foot wide paved track around the perimeter of Willistead Park. There was no advance warning to residents of the area and no public consultation; something that the current administration is advocating for the city's Master Parks Plan. The question becomes: How did this go so far without any primary stakeholder consultation? This is a $400 thousand dollar project in a key historical park that seems to have just sprung up in the park over night. Residents also noted that the project seems to be attached to the street remediation project taking place on Willistead Crescent. The budgets may be associated. People do not want any paths added and are most concerned about the amount of asphalt that the Parks Department is planning to use. The track is proposed to be ten feet wide so that vehicles can use it as opposed to driving over the grass; something that they have been doing for as long as the park has been in existence. Measurements taken today indicate that the track will be 12 feet wide with shoulders taken into account. The obvious intent of this track is to accommodate Art in the Park vendors. They can drive around the loop, set up shop on either side of the "road" and drive out. City officials say it is about wheel chair accessibility. At ten feet wide wheel chairs can do the loop four abreast. Park lovers and advocates would like the park to remain "as is" with grass only and no paths other than those already in the park. Parks officials say that they are willing to speak to residents about the situation. People are concerned about the original, intended aesthetics of this noble grassy park. Let's not forget that it was someones estate and yard at one time. No one seems impressed about a circuitous track at all; especially if it is just to accommodate Art in the Park which is an annual two day event.

Park work associated with this project.



Track to circle park at 12 feet wide, shoulder to shoulder



Crew works feverishly towards completion of track.



Park track associated with this work on Willistead Crescent






Councillor Drew Dilkens - Ward 1

c/o 350 City Hall Square Suite 203

Windsor, Ontario

N9A 6S1

Phone: (519) 250-4607

ddilkens@city.windsor.on.ca




Councillor Ron Jones - Ward 2



c/o 350 City Hall Square Suite 203

Windsor, Ontario

N9A 6S1

Phone: (519) 252-1005

rjones@city.windsor.on.ca

Councillor Fulvio Valentinis - Ward 3

c/o 350 City Hall Square Suite 203

Windsor, Ontario

N9A 6S1

Phone: (519) 977-5067

fvalentinis@city.windsor.on.ca

Councillor Alan Halberstadt - Ward 4

c/o 350 City Hall Square Suite 203

Windsor, Ontario

N9A 6S1

Phone: (519) 973-8323

ahalberstadt@city.windsor.on.ca



Councillor Ed Sleiman - Ward 5





c/o 350 City Hall Square Suite 203

Windsor, Ontario

N9A 6S1



Phone: (519) 944-7058

esleiman@city.windsor.on.ca

Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac - Ward 6

c/o 350 City Hall Square Suite 203

Windsor, Ontario

N9A 6S1

Phone: (519) 945-4434

joagignac@city.windsor.on.ca

Councillor Biagio (Bill) Marra - Ward 8

c/o 350 City Hall Square Suite 203



Windsor, Ontario

N9A 6S1

Phone: (519) 948-0900

bmarra@city.windsor.on.ca

Councillor Hilary Payne - Ward 9

c/o 350 City Hall Square Suite 203

Windsor, Ontario

N9A 6S1

Phone: (519) 972-6071

hpayne@city.windsor.on.ca

Councillor Al Maghnieh - Ward 10

c/o 350 City Hall Square Suite 203

Windsor, Ontario

N9A 6S1

Phone: (519) 962-5921

amaghnieh@city.windsor.on.ca

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/588452161219766/

Old Walkerville's Art in the Park will Flood no More

The City of Windsor has started to lay drains in Windsor's Willistead Park to remediate floods that have historically plagued the city's popular "Art in the Park" week-end on a near annual basis. This will be good news for vendors and patrons alike. Art in the Park has been cancelled or closed on a number of occasions due to mud and flooding. These images show the drain lines and basins that are being routed through the park.
Many local residents around the park are concerned that the Parks Department is defacing the park with a paved path that is planned to run over top of the new drainage. They stress that any path will destroy the historical intent of the Walker property that is considered to be the heart and soul of Old Walkerville. The stated purpose of the upgrade is for vehicular access (maintenance vehicles) and wheel chair access. Residents do not want any paths, paved or cobbed as this will destroy the historical design and aesthetic that is very much a part of the Willistead property. Asphalt simply does not belong in this park. Art in the Park vendors can access the park as they always have and still experience a better event with the potential for flooding nixed. If wheelchair access is what its all about then maybe it would be wiser to improve the existing paths and keep it simple. Catering too much to one event (Art in the Park) will alter the nature of the park for the balance of the year. Nobody see's any benefit to a park that looks like its intent is to accomodate a year round flea market.
If residents are concerned or curious they should call 311 or contact their councillor, Alan Halberstadt to address their concerns:
Phone: (519) 973-8323
ahalberstadt@city.windsor.on.ca




Basins and supplies for near by street upgrade at Willistead Crescent





Trenching and burying drains.