Wednesday, July 31, 2013

KENWICK ON THE LAKE PARK


Our friends Ken and Devonna have often walked and biked past Kenwick on the Lake Park which is on Old Lakeshore Road Bright's Grove
They wondered how it could be so ignored and neglected with such an interesting history 
During the 1940s and 50s people danced under the stars at Kenwick on the Lake to bands such as
Guy Lombardo

A small committee was formed with interested volunteers 
 They approached the City of Sarnia to see if they could make something happen

IT WAS A GO

The committee raised $100,000.00 to put towards the project

TVO Playground Makeover Show called 'Givers' received 200 requests from Ontario cities to be one of ten park makeovers in the summer of 2013
Sarnia was one of the cities chosen for this project

You will see in the photos where the children are being videoed 


Students from Bright's Grove School along with students from St. Michael's were chosen to take part in the project
They are getting intructions from one of the directors from TVO


Checking out to see how it is done!

OK......got it!



Lambton College Building Trade students with their mentor

Three summer students were willing to leave their jobs for three days
They were hard working girls!!!!!!!!!

This is the beginning of a 3 day event
I think we might be getting a 'pep talk'




These boys are keen and eager

We're ready!!!!!!

Shovels in hand

Grass was removed from the play area and replaced with wood chips
A lot of digging!!!!!



A lesson in learning the controls


 The Lambton College students are hard at work
Good job boys

Community volunteers came out to help wherever
 they were needed

One happy lady
She even had dirt on her face
A true gardener

The 'floor' plan for the Gazebo
Checking out the plans

Even carpenter Joe was there

 Local 1089 Labor Union volunteers were at the park 
for almost 2 weeks

The gal on the right was very
'SHEEK'
When she picked up her t-shirt she asked for a pair of sissors
My ears picked up!!
My eyes picked up!
Off came the bottom of the shirt
Off came the sleeves
On went a tied belt
This is something my 16 year old granddaughter would do!
And.......
Let me tell you 
Oh how she worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well done lady in gold







Many hands 

Carpenters at work

Future carpenters

Members of the Kiwanis club cooked hot dogs and burgers
for over 100 volunteers

Devonna was in charge of food services for the three day project

Here we have one of the Kiwanis 'cooks' with her two boys who helped out as well

This just caught my eye
FUNNY
A hard hat and carpenter's belt mades a good face!

You can tell it is lunch time!

Oh boy
Lots and lots and lots of water was handed out
Kern Water Systems supplied the water and ice

A firefighter
A volunteer
and
The leader of the pack

We had some hard working students

The students from the two schools were shown how to 
do different jobs

Local 1089 fellows working on the base for the Gazebo
Getting ready for the cement

Here comes the cement
I was impressed as I watched how it all works
The boys sure knew their job!

Ken's priority was to keep the volunteers organized and assigned various tasks throughtout the 3 day park venture

The end of a good day



The cement floor took on a pebble effect once the top cement/sand was washed off

Video about to roll

A welding lesson



This is a cement wall!!!
The other side of the wall is to be used as a backdrop for hitting balls up against the wall
This side of the wall will be used as a backdrop for a stage
Future theatre plays may happen here!

Many hours
and
Many  hands
are being put into building the Gazebo

Good job

You see the fellow with his hand up?
He is waving at me!
It is not a friendly wave
He is telling me to get out of the way
He did it more than once!!!!!!!!!

These folks are all TVO employees

New play equipment being installed

Ha..........
One of the workers trying out the slide

Water boy

The sectretary of  Kiwanis club and her grandson

Even the trash cans were getting a fresh coat of paint

Besides being the photo lady I cut up veggies and fruit and delivered 'snacks' mid morning and mid afternoon

Putting in time in-between 'takes'

You are seeing several Gazebo photos
However
I want you to see their progess

Painting the key boards white
This is Joe's project
Had a good team working with him

Good work Mr. McPhail!

Back and forth all day long
Buckets and buckets of wood chips

Measure Measure Measure
Ha......do you notice the gal?
YES!!!

TVO truck

A little family came one afternoon
They donned hard hats and t-shirts
They were ready to work!


I like their boots!







A music 'volunteer' is teaching the children a song that will be sung at the opening ceremonies on Thursday


Devonna and her granddaughter on a water run


The musical board walk was taking shape

Doug trying out the xylophone

Painters!!!!!


Another painter
Doug Kennedy
Son of Jack and Gwen Kennedy who originally started
Kenwick on the Lake
Bright's Grove
The local outdoor dance pavilion

Waiting

Good job girl!!!!!!!!!!



Making their 'ribbon'


They were hanging little bells at the top of the swing 
Had quite the time getting the bell in the right spot

Concentrating on his job

Remember the cement wall?
Local 1089 Labor Union lads 
Putting cement in for the ball court


There are those boots again

The ceremonies are about to begin
We have a Canadian supporter

Our Sarnia mayor Mike Bradley is on board for
 the opening ceremonies

The children did a great job with their song


Fun in the sun

Welcome to Kenwick on the Lake







Magnificent

As a fundraiser several benches have been purchased overlooking Lake Huron
This gentleman told Ken it is his favourite place to sit with his dog

JOB WELL DONE EVERYONE













































































10 comments:

  1. Wow, that is awesome, amazing really, People are going to love it. Great shots I really enjoyed it all.

    EB

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  2. Thanks for the photo mom, u know the one! J

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  3. What a wonderful way for a community to come together and do something that all can enjoy. Well done, photographer!!!

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  4. I hope some of the volunteers could see all of those pictures?? They would love them.
    Interesting to see how it all played out :-)
    SB

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  5. Great TEAMWORK ~ Working together to benefit a community ~ As usual, Dianne, your photos really tell the story ~ Thanks for sharing ~

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  6. Great TEAMWORK ~ Working together to benefit a community ~ As usual, Dianne, your photos really tell the story ~ Thanks for sharing ~

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  7. Thank you Dianne for taking me through this wonderful creation ! I recall stories of the older years when people enjoyed bands and dancing at Kenwick Terrace. So wonderful to see it resurrected. I knew it was planned....it's wonderful to have this pictorial account. Thank you :)
    As per usual love & hugs for Gwennie.

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  8. Dianne, once again.......you managed to capture a bit of every activity. I don't know how you do it but you did a wonderful job. Thank you so much.
    Devonna & Ken

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  9. Great story Dianne.. I had no idea this was happening .. what a great community!! JG

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  10. What a great story in photos and words! Congrats to Ken & Devonna for a job well done. What an asset the resurrected park will be for young and old of your community.

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