Parks committee gets update on plans for H. Murray Smith Centennial Park

By Ron Giofu

The future of the remaining acres of H. Murray Smith Centennial Park was a topic discussed at the recent meeting of the parks and recreation advisory committee.

The committee met last Tuesday night at town hall with an update on where the redevelopment of H. Murray Smith Centennial Park stands being requested. Committee vice chair Brinton Sharman recalled the contentious meeting process and the town council motion that came out of it.

Sharman wanted to know if there was any progress made on any of the items planned for the park, including tennis and basketball courts.

Councillor Peter Courtney indicated he is part of a committee looking to fundraise for a new track at H. Murray Smith Centennial Park. The new track would have to be repositioned on the site as the former S. Ralph McCurdy track is no longer fully available as the south end of it was sold as part of the property purchased by the Greater Essex County District School Board for North Star High School.

Courtney said they are looking at what size of track that could be built but they are in a holding pattern as they await policies to be presented to council by administration surrounding fundraising and donations.

Clerk Kevin Fox indicated a policy would be coming before town council at the June 12 meeting regarding commemorative trees and benches. According to Fox, the motion regarding the park was that there was to be no activity at H. Murray Smith Centennial Park for 18 months so that fundraising could take place.

Courtney questioned why the commemorative trees and bench policy would be coming individually, as he was expecting an “all encompassing” policy on fundraising and donations. He didn’t believe the intent of the motion was to restrict activity at the park for 18 months.