Historic Caledonia Kinsmen Park improvements create excitement
Barbara A. Martindale- For What It's Worth June 26, 2013
The community's excitement is infectious. As Canada Day 2013 approaches, the 21st year for Caledonia's celebrations, there is a new lively anticipation for the visual perception that has been created by Ron and Nancy Clark, along with a committee formed exclusively for the cause.
Friday night's opening ceremonies of the new pool, splash pad and gazebo leads into a long weekend of festivity and happy enjoyment.
Along with Friday night's opening ceremonies, the Tour de Caledonia on Saturday morning, the Black Top Hop on Sunday night and Canada Day all day Monday provides something for everyone in Caledonia to participate in one way or the other.
Visitors to Caledonia will see many improvements with the Argyle Street revitalization, the River Walk parkette and entrance, flower beds blooming and the new Kinsmen Park.
This column in the past four years has contained some history of Kinsmen Park, the importance of the Tow Path way back when and in the late 1970s as the Tow Path Committee was committed to raising funds for the Kinsmen Park area around the new dam in 1980. That, too, was spearheaded by Ron Clark as vice chair for the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA).
Today, Caledonia's park along the Grand River is definitely being referred as Kinsmen Park, the entitlement it deserves.
Since July 22, 1946 when Caledonia Council purchased the two-acre property for a playground, Kinsmen Park has grown extensively. The Kinsmen Club, formed in the 1950s, took on improvements and stuck with it until the new dam was built and the park's extension to the west end.
Before that time, some will remember the days of the garden parties and the top-notch entertainment at the bandshell in the 1940s. Whether it is a bit of a throwback or not, the gazebo will be a modern-day bandshell for entertainment. For instance, Tourism Caledonia has reserved the gazebo for the third Sunday evening in July, August and September with booked entertainment. And on August 24, the Caledonia Marketing Collective will hold its Movie Night at the Gazebo.
The 4 to 7 p.m. time frame on Canada Day will include three different types of entertainment at the gazebo.
The baseball diamond has a new look and location in Kinsmen Park, too. Crafters on Canada Day continue to be located in the vicinity of the diamond and tennis court area with some small changes.
The children's area on Canada Day will be in the same location as always. New and different children's activities, along with the traditional, will encompass the pleasant new surroundings.
At the west end of Kinsmen Park, the citizenship ceremony and the platform entertainers will draw large crowds during the afternoon. Entertainment on the large stage provides musical enjoyment from then on until the fireworks at night.
Take pleasure in the long weekend of activities. Delight in Caledonia's new look, new pool, splash pad and gazebo. Come out and enjoy the ambiance, the exciting atmosphere and especially the fun.
