2023-06-07

Community group wants public park on former Bayport school property

COOKVILLE - Civic politicians with the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) agreed to a five-year management deal with a community group of volunteers working to establish a public park on the Bayport grounds of the former elementary school.

The three-hectare-plus site, located along Highway 332 is owned by MODL but council made it explicit they aren't attaching any money to the deal with the Riverport and District Community Park Association.

The motion passed by council this spring states the accord contains "no guarantee of any financial assistance from the municipality," nor "financial commitment by the municipality for the concept plan, capital costs or ongoing operating costs." The association, council noted, can still apply for grants offered by MODL. The agreement will be reviewed by the end of Year 5.

"One of the four strategic priorities of council is to re-create parks, which is about investing in our current parks to meet established standards and to make them more accessible," said MODL's recreation, parks and tourism director Trudy Payne in a written report to council's policy and strategy committee.

"Council's direction has been and continues to be that we are not creating new parks until we have addressed the needs of our current parks. Although the former Riverport and District Elementary School grounds did provide a recreation space in the Riverport area, it was not a space created by MODL but became one of MODL's property when the school closed. The playground was deemed unsafe and thus, was removed."

The school shuttered in 2011 and was demolished in 2020. MODL inherited the building and property after the building closed and was abandoned by South Shore Regional School Board.

In her report, Payne suggested the deal enables the association "to move forward with their fundraising and in seeking grants to achieve their goal of a community park."

In a previous presentation to local elected officials, association representatives asked council to maintain custody of the property for community use, provide funding for design work and operational costs and commit to long-term support toward park development.

Community consultations carried out by the association showed the Riverport and Bayport area is desirous of a public park with sheltered picnic space, a link to a MODL park in nearby Indian Path, washroom facilities, playground and benches.

Several entities are on board with the association's intentions, including MODL, a service club, volunteer fire department, community centre, and electric light utility. The province provided $5,000 toward a concept plan. A number of individuals also extended offers of in-kind work, money, and volunteering.

Others have expressed interest in the past in transforming the former school site.

In 2013, a Lunenburg-based company wanted to convert the spot into a brewery and distillery but the project never materialized.