ABOYNE – A landscape plan for the county’s Wellington Place campus here will include a community space for Indigenous ceremonies and programming.
Wellington County council approved the plan on March 25, at the recommendation of the Information, Heritage and Seniors Committee.
In a March 10 report to the committee, Wellington Place administrator Jana Burns explained the county has budgeted for a landscape plan for the “Commons,” a five-acre area abutting the southeast portion of the roundabout within the campus.
That plan includes developing a community space on the flat grounds behind the Wellington County Museum and Archives parking lot.
Burns added the county is applying for a $250,000 Canada Healthy Community Initiative grant to develop a community Medicine Garden, Three Sisters Garden, Sacred Fire Pit and multi-use pavilion on the grounds, with the intention of tying this space to the Commons with trails.
“The grant supports projects that transform public spaces in response to COVID-19 and we are proposing a safe and vibrant place for growing, learning, celebrating and sharing,” states Burns.
She added she is writing the application in partnership with the county’s Indigenous Advisory Committee and has met with Green Legacy, Children’s Early Years and Taste Real officials.
“If successful, we would engage the public and a landscape architect to develop our public space and incorporate the other multi-year items we see as crucial, but outside the scope of this grant,” the report states.
Other proposed items include a two-stall, gender-neutral public washroom, a natural playground and an amphitheatre.
Councillor Don McKay commended committee and staff members for their work on the grant application.
“I think that’s just fantastic that we’re moving forward on that,” he said.
Councillor Diane Ballantyne said, “I also share the excitement for what’s happening at Wellington Place and the grant proposal that’s gone in for the Indigenous ceremony space.
“And it’s such an excellent step toward reconciliation. I’m really happy to see the potential for that project.”
