Jackson Park reunited (con't)
“Ouellette Ave. ended in a cul-de-sac. And when they put the (overpass) in it kind of cut it in two halves.”
Sure, people can still walk under the overpass to get from one side to the other. But as part of the first stage of 20 years of Jackson Park upgrades under the park’s master plan, a formal walkway will connect the two sides. “It will provide a lit and accessible access underneath,” Clement said. The new 10-ft. wide asphalt trail (similar to the Ganatcio Trail) will eventually loop around the entire park. Work on the $800,000 project – funded by senior government stimulus money – will be completed this Fall. It’s part of an $8 million master plan for the park, with work to be done “as capital funds become available,” Clement said. Other work currently being carried out includes repairs to the trellis in the sunken gardens. Additional work will make the park more accessible. “The curbs will all be depressed so that it’s easier to get in and out...whether it’s rollerblades or wheelchairs or scooters,” Clement said. This includes a ramped entrance to the gardens near the parking lot. The area of the park along Ouellette Ave. that up until recently had a fence will remain an open area. ”We haven’t had any problems with that,” Clement said. Future work includes repairs to the main gate, repairs to the sunken garden itself, and additional parking. And the two World War II fighter planes, a Hurricane and Spitfire, which are fibreglass models, will remain. The original Lancaster bomber, which was taken down five years ago because of fear of the effect of the weather on the longstanding monument, will not be returning, Clement said. WindsorOntarioNews.com
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