The Mayor of Monmouth: 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.