Cathy Dobson
Contrary to popular belief, Centennial Park will be an improved version of itself once the $11-million overhaul is complete, says Sarnia’s environmental services superintendent.
Joe Boothe is at the waterfront park every day overseeing progress made by remediation crews.
“I know there’s been a lot of negativity,” he said. “But we’re going to have a number of new features and a beautiful park again.”
It’s been 3.5 years since chemical contaminants found in the park soil forced its closure. The cleanup, with its delays and escalating costs, has been frustrating for residents.
It doesn’t appear now that Centennial will be finished until the spring. But when it’s done, Sarnians will have a clean and safe park; remodelled washroom and kiosk building; a new playground; stage area; a new armour stone wall along the shore and larger boat launch.
The park will be safer with better lighting and clearer sight lines for policing, he said.
Activity has escalated in Centennial as more BRE-EX Construction crews decked out in protective gear and masks race against winter.
“Right now we are at the mercy of Mother Nature but BRE-EX feels they can meet this November deadline,” said Boothe. If they do, all that will be left to do in the spring is planting.
The latest holdup to the mammoth project has cost the city another $800,000 and involves replacing a deteriorating sanitary sewer. Poor soil quality contributed to the deterioration of the sewer and a hydro duct. Crews were also surprised to find undocumented pipes that slowed progress.
Construction materials and debris used as landfill years ago needed to be addressed as well.
“The project has had its challenges from the very beginning,” city manager Marg Misek-Evans told council Oct. 24. “This just represents another chapter in those challenges.
There was no way of knowing the condition of the services until they were dug up, she said. But making the improvements while the park is dug up will avoid big problems in years to come.
“I’m obviously not happy to spend the money,” said Coun. Matt Mitro. “But this is the kind of thing we need … to deal with now.”
“We can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” added Coun. Mike Kelch. “We’re making the park safe for use again.”
With costs escalating many of the “bells and whistles” proposed for Centennial Park were never approved. However, council has agreed to one new amenity to improve the park’s Front Street entrance and accessibility to it.
At a cost of $100,000, a sidewalk will be built on the west side of Front Street giving walking access to a Sarnia Transit shelter, a new pedestrian crossing on Front Street, and a dedicated bus drop-off zone.
The new drop-off zone will be large enough for two motorcoaches to pull in during special events at the park, said Boothe.
If the weather is favourable, he anticipates Sarnians will see installation of new playground equipment this month. The Rotary Club of Sarnia Bluewaterland is covering the $150,000 cost for the playground and a healing garden.
The soil beneath the old playground was some of the most badly contaminated in the park and has been removed and capped on the west side of Centennial.
The new playground will sit on a cement floor covered with a soft, user-friendly surface.