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Shelby Behrens-Stevenson was before Huntsville Council on Monday night asking municipal leaders to reconsider the redesign of Kent Park.
She invited council to envision something more unique for the parkette, rather than the current design which she said was underwhelming.
“Kent Park sits at a busy intersection, welcoming everybody to the downtown. It’s the first thing you see when you’re coming from the highway to the downtown core. So, looking at the approved design there’s a lot to be desired. It consists of a giant granite circle that I believe will be a heating pad with the sun beating down on it in the summer and it will take years for the trees to fully mature to be able to provide shade,” she said.
The current design is generic and something that could be found in the middle of Mississauga, she added. “And the stage, we already have a stage at River Mill Park. The area is far better suited to have an event… and when the stage isn’t being used down there it’s simply just a place for kids to congregate.”
Behrens-Stevenson said the current design of the park seems to cater mostly to summer visitors but there are year-round activities downtown. She invited council to think about a warm and welcoming place that represents Muskoka and welcomes visitors downtown all year long. She suggested a permanent covered structure, which could provide shade in the summer and shelter from snow and rain during the cooler months. She also spoke of incorporating a business directory in the design as well as a gas-powered fire feature.
“I know that fire sounds kind of risky so what I’m thinking of is like the centennial flame,” she said. “It’s a gas-powered flame, it would have timers on it. It could be covered by glass or iron as to minimize any potential liability. I think what’s more Muskoka than sitting around a fire with friends and family, to me that says community.”
Behrens-Stevenson also read out comments about the design from a few business stakeholders in the area and council seemed to warm to the idea.
Deputy Mayor Nancy Alcock thanked Behrens-Stevenson for her comments and ideas. “We’ve had lots of discussions around how to deal with Kent Park and I think we’re all sort of still trying to come to grips with it,” she said. “I really like it and I also like the fact that you’re asking us to reconsider what we currently have before us, so thank you for that.”
Others echoed those sentiments. Councillor Dione Schumacher said other community events, like winter activities, could be incorporated. She said she liked the idea of being able to use it for all seasons. Councillor Bob Stone said her idea would add a ‘wow’ factor to the park. Although he said he would be concerned with vandalism, “the wow factor supersedes everything, and thanks very much. I hope we can make this happen.”
Huntsville Mayor Karin Terziano told Behrens-Stevenson that she had piqued council’s interest, “and have us excited about some new ideas and for that I thank you very much.”
Later in the meeting, council agreed to pull the Kent Park redesign from the existing tender.
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Dianne Adams says
The new ideas for Kent Park are lovely, but I have to agree with Bob Stone that vandalism would be a definite concern unless the site was alarmed/camera’d to eliminate that possibility. It would be a lovely spot to stop and get warm in winter but access would seem to be a problem unless membership maybe by a swipe card could provide that entry. A person on site would be nice, but probably too expensive when compared to electronic surveillance.
Bonnie Branton says
Good call Mayor & Council,
Removing the first uninspiring Kent Park design was wise.
We can produce something much better that reflects our Huntsville/Muskoka ‘brand’.
We know us better than out of town Consultants.
We are: Trees, water, Canoeing,
campfires, timber, sports, family activities.
Some of these can be expressed by not destroying our gorgeous ‘Christmas Tree’ in Kent Park – wisely highlighted by the movie shot here in town. What a wonderful asset – in the middle of our town! Santa & our kids love our ‘Christmas Centrepiece’.
The ‘timber’ shelter suggested is so ‘Muskoka’ & the gas-fired, glass enclosed fireplace (on a timer), is spot on our ‘brand’.
How about a big Canoe for kids to sit in?
There are many ways to mitigate vandalism & even if the park had 1 rock in the middle of it, someone would have to write on it.
Congratulations on your decision!
I think there will be many creative
minds in our community that would love to add to the ‘Kent Park Project’.
Thank you, thank you,
A very happy resident.
Janice Larade says
It all looks and sounds so “Beautiful!”
But in a perfect world where “ALL” individuals respect people and property!!!
The amount of vandalism around town would indicate this would be a target at some point..!?
At a loss of the time and $$ put into it!
wendy brown says
I think we should incorporate a fountain that can be used to water dogs. They have one in Bracebridge, and I think they had one at our town hall years ago but it was for horses then.
Shelby Behrens-Stevenson says
All of the comments about vandalism…ANYTHING can be vandalized. People spray paint sidewalks…shall we tear them up because someone, MAYBE, MIGHT ONE DAY vandalize them? Should we be discounting opportunities to beautify our downtown and set ourselves apart because someone might take a Sharpie to it?
Rob Millman says
Beautiful artist’s concept drawing! Of course, one wonders what elevation this could possibly represent (with that lovely coniferous backdrop). It could only possibly be south; but that would eliminate the cafe and outdoor patio on the southern border.
Perhaps, the fireplace could be open NORTH and south (with 360-degree seating). I would also recommend that Beaver Tails be strongly considered to run the cafe; considerably lessening the adverse safety factor involved in numerous return trips from the parkette to the existing restaurant.
Dr. Don Keedic says
In order to combat vandalism the town could consider reminding parents to let their young ones know that damaging other people’s property is down right wrong. Perhaps sending a nice note along with taxes could help spread the message. Schools are a good way to get the message out as well. Perhaps teachers could be involved in making anti-vandalism part of their curriculum.
Dr. K
Steven Bodrug says
Why was the following plan not feasible (see link)? If anything had a ‘wow’ factor, it was this: https://ehq-production-canada.imgix.net/projects/images/d9df6b8f88d0cb35d6114788f5084052403ea273/000/008/230/original/Streetscape_Draft.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1080
Original source: https://myhuntsville.ca/streetscape
That rendering was more or less along the lines of a my original suggestion for the Kent Park revitalization, a few years ago. I requested a water feature, as the focal point of the square, with large granite boulders (not armourstone) disseminated throughout the site, which would infuse the park with natural, organic beauty, and would also serve as informal seating.
Given the vast amount of large granite rocks throughout Ontario, the cost of implementing such a design feature would be minimal. Many of them could probably be sourced from construction sites, where earth is excavated, thereby resulting in the removal of rocks from surrounding woodlands.
On such a paradigm, most of the cost behind the redesign would probably be directed toward the paving treatment, and the water feature, which I don’t imagine would be prohibitive. Sadly, the watered down version that we are likely to get is reflective of our notoriously timid mindset as Canadians ― or Ontarians, at least ― to never dream big and do anything audacious.
Not to draw an analogue, as the following example is on an entirely different scope, but happened to our lost spirit of temerity that saw us build, arguably, the greatest engineering feat of the 20th century: the CN Tower? Why are we so reluctant to spend money on design excellence? Whatever eventually gets built, it will outlast all of us who are currently concerned with the outcome of this site. Why settle on something banal, and hackneyed, instead of going the extra mile, for once, and splurging on something exceptional?
The compromised design that is being considered has nothing of interest that will lure people into the square and make them want to linger. Shelby’s suggestion is a good one, that hints at the potential that this site holds, but simply incorporating that amongst a sinuous arrangement of armourstone, still misses the mark.
Something that fuses together the elements in the rendering that I posted, earlier (trees, granite boulders, water feature, steps for sitting on, etc), along with a fireplace, or even just a flame, nestled in an artistic rock basin/bowl, would demand the attention of passersby, tickle their curiosity, and sense of wonder, and cause them to enter for a closer look. A circle of nearly identically chiseled rocks, and a few trees, offers nothing stimulating that will result in an active and vibrant space. The park may look a bit cleaner, and fresh, but it will still languish in mediocrity.