Community Service
Buckmaster's Rotary Park
Buckmaster's Rotary Park
In 2007, the Rotary Club of St. John's Northwest, working with the very active Buckmaster's Circle Community Centre, embarked on a new "Special Project": the development of an outdoor "free play" recreation space in the Buckmaster's Circle neighbourhood. The neighbourhood, in the centre of the City of St. John's, comprises 1 sq km and includes over 240 children under the age of 14 years who currently have no outdoor play space. The site of the new park is a 4.7 acre undeveloped area in the heart of the Buckmaster's Circle Community Centre service area.
A concept plan for the park had been developed in 2004, when the residents of Buckmaster's Circle participated in a process of public consultation, led by the Grand Concourse Authority with the support of the City of St. John's. The 2004 concept plan for the new park included defined spaces for active and passive recreation, and was approved by area residents and the City of St. John's. This concept provided inspiration to the Buckmaster's Circle Community Centre whose Board and Executive Director worked tirelessly towards a plan for implementation.
A breakthrough came in 2008 when the partnership between the Rotary Club of St. John's Northwest and the Buckmaster's Circle Community Centre, based on a donation from Rotary of $50,000, helped leverage sources of funding for the estimated cost of approximately $640,000. Funding partners include the Rotary Club of St. John's Northwest, the City of St. John's, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Government of Canada. Adjunct to this, the City of St. John's agreed to take on responsibility for ongoing maintenance of the park.
The Rotary Club of St. John's Northwest is delighted to support the Buckmaster's Circle Community Centre in this endeavor which is sure to have a positive impact on the community.
Implementation began in earnest in Summer 2008, with an update of the concept plan, followed by detail construction drawings. Construction started in Fall 2008, and the project was completed in 2009. The offical park opening was held in June 2010.
"This park is a dream come true for the entire community," said Bonnie James, Executive Director, Buckmaster's Circle Community Centre.