Wellington Park rehabilitation to become a project of community interest

By Sharon Harrison
Wellington park’s revitalization initiative is to become a project of community interest after council voted in favour of the request made by the non-profit Wellington Community Association.

Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer put forward the motion that council declare the revitalization of Wellington Park to be a project of community interest for the purposes of receiving donations and issuing of official donation receipts for income tax purposes. It passed with no discussion or comment from council members.

Peta Hall, a member of the Wellington Community Association’s (WCA) beautification committee, addressed Tuesday evening’s council meeting outlining how the mandate of the committee is to beautify the village of Wellington to bring positive enhancements. The park revitalization project is the association’s biggest venture thus far.

“Our plans are creative and enhancing for our beloved park, they are long-term and far-reaching,” noted Hall.

Located at 251 Wellington Main Street, in the centre of the village, Wellington waterfront park (with water access via a rocky shoreline, depending on water levels) enjoys commanding views of Lake Ontario (and Wellington beach). It has an impressive children’s play structure, a gazebo, the Cenotaph, picnic tables, along with mature and young trees and a few flower beds.

– Peta Hall social media photo

What began in late 2024, with the entire project funded by community donations, two benches were installed in the village by the WCA, each painted by County artists, followed by another four benches this year. The made in Wellington benches are adapted from the Wellington Heritage Museum’s 1820 benches, and comply with AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) specifications.

“Our Main Street now has places for us and our visitors to sit, rest, chat with friends, read, and a couple of women are even sitting under the trees knitting. It encourages health by having places to rest from one end of Main Street to the other,” shared Hall.

Other projects undertaken in 2024 have included summer banners, with remembrance banners in the fall to honour local veterans, as well as the distinctive doorways project.

“The paint was donated, and now our Wellington businesses have distinctive doorways and frontages. They brighten our downtown, and this year, we are encouraging all our Wellington residents to follow suit and make the whole village a place of distinctive doors.”

This year came stylish new planters to deck Main Street, bursting with colourful plants. However, Hall said the main focus of the committee now is on Wellington Park.

“It is neglected, bleak, forlorn and full of weeds, and we want to rectify that, and we know the park is locally loved and used by various service groups and for village celebrations and events.”

She said they would like the park to be upgraded and more kempt, colourful, attractive and creative, and their plan includes revitalizing the existing beds with new plantings of colourful perennial native pollinators. The flagpole beds and entrance beds have already been planted.

Additionally, they have six new trees donated by community members, and along with County staff, the WCA and a team of volunteers are working with the County Garden Club, native plant specialists and landscape designers.

– Peta Hall social media photo

The next project on the association’s park to-do list is a long bed of colourful plants and grasses from the road to the water, “to hide the unsightly bedraggled metal fence on the west side of the park [right-hand side when facing the water]”.

“We believe it will make a major improvement to the look of the park and brighten that area considerably, and we have a donor who is willing to fund the entire plant selection. Not only will it hide the unsightly decrepit fence, but will add colour to that drab area and even add winter interest.“

Mayor Steve Ferguson said Hall was right about the fence.

“In 2017, when (Their Royal Highnesses) Camilla was at the park with Charles and was leaning up against the fence talking to people, it just looked weird,” said Ferguson.

While future park plans are to include adding more planting beds, Hall emphasized they will be strategically placed allowing for space for park users and events.

Longer term grand plans include researching how best to convert the redundant old and now fixed (and long un-used) merry-go-round into a round and unusual harvest table for families and groups to gather.

“It is an innovative and creative use of a much-loved children’s play structure that will maintain its character for many years to come. “

She added that a world-renowned installation glass artist has shown interest in creating a solar lit tower, and as Wellington is well known for its wind, wind sculptures are planned along the waterfront.

Improvements to Bloomfield’s Mill Pond Park recently (May 2025) also became a project of community interest. That story here:

Improvements to Bloomfield’s Mill Pond Park take next step