At their July 25 meeting, Huntsville council agreed to direct staff to work with the Downtown Huntsville BIA to secure three umbrellas for the three seating areas at Kent Park.
The umbrellas would be purchased by the BIA, which would develop a plan to set up and remove the umbrellas on a daily basis. The BIA would also develop an inclement weather plan that would include identifying says when the umbrellas would not be available as well as the urgent removal of the umbrellas in case of unexpected high winds.
Council representative on the BIA, Councillor Bob Stone, told council that at its last Board meeting the BIA recognized that there is little or no shade at the park because the trees are still saplings. “So the BIA just wants to help fix the problem. So they’re prepared to purchase the umbrellas, manage them by putting them out and taking them down. Staff recognized that wind can be an issue with larger umbrellas so staff will work with the BIA to tether them so they don’t fly away but I think this is a wonderful gesture from the BIA,” he said.
Councillor Dione Schumacher said she’d like to see greater attention paid to the provision of shade in parks in general. “I’ve been approached by people in Utterson and Port Sydney area where we have playgrounds and you have, with climate change happening right now, grandparents are the ones that are doing a lot of the care and they’re out there in the sun watching kids play and we have a number of parks and areas that there isn’t necessarily a shade complement to our park system,” she said, adding that she wants to see that considered in future.
Councillor Tim Withey clarified that the umbrellas were being purchased by the BIA. He also asked whether any thought had gone into putting in larger trees in the park. “I would like to see that. I believe the public would like to see that, I believe the cost is exorbitant but I think we should ask staff to look into that,” said Stone.
Mayor Karin Terziano said the fair answer to that is that council had tree specs for both Main Street and Kent Park “and I don’t think anybody really knew if it’s a nine-metre tree, what a nine-metre tree is or a six-metre tree… it’s pretty hard to look at engineered drawing and understand what size of a tree you’re getting but a replacement is always possible,” she added.
“I did a little research myself and I found out that if we get a readily available 20-foot maple or oak delivered for under $1,000 from a nursery in Ontario,” said Councillor Withey. He said the cost excludes HST. “It would come in a big spade truck, you’ve seen those, we would just have to have a hole dug for it… just throwing that out there.”
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Greg Reuvekamp says
At this point I’m just waiting for Lyle Lanley to arrive and pitch the town on buying a monorail. It’s the logical next step in this fiasco
“Y’know, a town with money is like a mule with a spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it and danged if he knows how to use it!”
Brenda Begg says
Wow, again! Umbrellas for shade, possibly a mature tree or two for Kent Park.
Thank you, thank you, for addressing our concerns.
Tom Stehr says
It’s a start for a bit of shade, however, would not a open sided wooden structure with a roof be more practical and durable? I also think with the surrounding vast forests that we have that this type of shade structure would be much more representative of a Muskoka feel than umbrellas. It would cost more than umbrellas but at this stage of the game lets make it right. A solid wood structure won’t fly away in the first big wind storm that we so often experience here.
Bob Braan says
Umbrellas? Seriously? That have to be put up and down depending on the weather?
Why is Bob Stone still talking? He didn’t realize there is no shade from sticks?
Solutions to this mistake include removing most of the pavers and rocks and putting the topsoil back with sod.
Take out the sticks and plant medium size trees (“20-foot maple or oak delivered for under $1,000”) for at least some immediate shade and review the earlier suggestions of a central fountain and/or fireplace log gazebo.
Why were all the good Muskoka ideas from residents totally ignored? In favor of a hot as Hades moonscape?
Obviously residents are wasting their time giving this council thoughtful feedback.
Bill Allen says
I think I will choose Kent Park as the place I will die. As an octogenarian and resident of the wonderful community of Huntsville I have to do this kind of planning for my upcoming expiry date. Kent Park is ideal because of its Muskoka chairs which I can sit in but cannot get out of. That makes me contemplate sitting there permanently. The benches on the street on the way to Kent Park are wonderful because with a push on the seat with one hand and a push on my cane with the other hand I actually am able to get to my feet by myself. Getting up from the Muskoka chairs at Kent Park is another matter. They are built for my younger self. Now I stand beside those chairs and fondly remember when I was able to use them. Long ago communities used to have village stocks to keep people in place. Now we have the more humane Muskoka chairs.
John Mitchell says
If people making decisions can’t read drawings or don’t know the difference between 6 and 9 meters then others should be advising them accordingly. Did this not happen?
Kathy Kay says
Umbrellas are a great solution! Our family enjoyed a summer snack sitting on the rocks in the shade on the east side of the park one day last week. Very comfortable. We were kept company by a number of other people enjoying the seating in the shade about 1 o’clock in the afternoon and socially distanced too. Chairs or rocks both provide adequate seating It’s an area of transition. People don’t intend to stay long and it’s a lovely spot to rest and recoup. Regarding the size of trees: clearly bigger is better but also expensive. No shortage of opinions . As others point out, ,investing in planting large trees in intense urban infrastructures, like Main Street’s stone and concrete is a bit of a crap shoot. One of my geography professors at York University was an urban planner and arborist for the city of North York, and as he pointed out, trees do not grow in concrete. Toronto streetscape designers know. You can nurture them along for a few years but they die. Sooner rather than later. Ask any professional forester. So just accept you’re investing in a disposable feature and either suck it up or don’t do it. Umbrellas over the chairs is a great compromise. Too bad our town has so many vandals (another discussion for another day) or permanent ones like at Sugar Beach on Toronto ‘s waterfront would be an option (maybe not pink ones) .
Alan Perry says
At this point town council failed once again . Downtown Huntsville looks like every other street in Toronto, is this what the residents of Huntsville want for their town . 🙄
Lanor Lovegrove says
So pleased to read that Bob Stone has heard the concerns of the Huntsville public and is looking into things. Unfortunately I don’t think that umbrellas are the solution. Not only do they offer limited shade, will they not be costly to maintain? Paying staff to run helter skelter putting up umbrellas, taking them down as the weather dictates. It can change hourly here. Also, we will be left with a large grey, hard, hot area in the center of it all. Come winter what will we have left to enjoy… rocks?
I for one would like to see a tasteful gazebo in the middle of that bare, grey area surrounded by the seating areas, trees and flowers that are already there.
Just my opinion.
Any thoughts?
Brenda Begg says
To Lanor Lovegrove: A gazebo would be nice. It protects you somewhat, from the rain and provides seating. Certainly putting up and taking down umbrellas will be time consuming and never ending; but, now we’re seeing progress. The powers that be have their thinking caps on and that is a good thing. It’s step in the right direction.
Susan Godfrey says
Wow, Bill Allen, I laughed my tea right out of my nose! Your comments are absolutely valid and relevant (after I stopped giggling) but seriously, it’s not a funny situation. Kent Park, on a hot sunny day, is not helping people find relief from the heat! And also, seriously, how does one, or all council, not understand a sapling from a shade tree (or ask the designer “how tall is that?”). Also, Ms. Lovegrove has a very good point and it really begs the question, why use unstable umbrellas’ (eg. Sugar Beach in T.O. Urban vibe not Muskoka vibe; and they are steel and permanent). A wood structure is the best solution, after all, we are in Muskoka! Get my point?
Jamie Lockwood says
Greg Reuvekamp, nailed it. And a great reference!
This is like reading The Beaverton news. We had a great park. With trees. I own a business close by. When I drive by there, there are very few ppl sitting on Muskoka rock with the sun pumping down on them?? Umbrellas?…problem solved. Maybe put out bottles of water ? Sun screen ? Thank you Tim Whithey. Logic and common sense appreciated. Bob Stone has always been great to deal with. I appreciate him standing up and fielding questions. Why aren’t other Councilors stepping up saying that they were on board for this park? It couldn’t have been just Bob?
John Oliver says
Reminds me of the song “Big Yellow Taxi”
I have always said that no matter how smart you think someone is, their not. Stupid is what stupid does.
Bill Beatty says
I remember when there was a lovely wooden structure in the centre of this area , complete with lovely wooden benches incorporated and wooden spindles in a surrounding railing……The Vandals loved trashing that !