The Rotary Club of Markdale is planning an ambitious expansion to its popular park in Markdale.
Rotary club representative Eric Robertson was a delegation at the Grey Highlands council meeting on Feb. 21 and he outlined the club’s plans to continue to improve Rotary Park in Markdale and its expansion plans for the community green space.
The club has leased 38 acres of land adjacent to the current Rotary Park from Chapman’s Ice Cream. The land is currently home to the Markdale soccer pitches and a frisbee golf course. The club is now beginning a planning exercise for the future of the additional land and how it can be connected to Rotary Park.
In addition, the club is continuing work to upgrade Rotary Park. It is planning to add accessible parking, an accessible fishing platform and sloping stairs.
Robertson asked that council approve in-kind donations to the projects of municipal staff time and equipment when the work is being done. He also asked that council appoint a representative to join a committee of local groups and organizations planning for future upgrades to the additional lands – including fully accessible walking trails and links to Rotary Park.
“We’d like to get moving fairly quickly on this,” said Robertson. “We are at the stage where we need to start collaborating.”
Members of council were supportive of the request. Deputy Mayor Dane Nielsen said during the recent budget discussion council had talked about how to get local groups and organizations more involved in improvement projects.
“This is exactly what Grey Highlands is looking for, it’s very encouraging,” he said, “I look forward to moving this project forward.”
