Huntsville’s Main Street came alive on Saturday, August 18 when it appeared that grass had sprouted in front of Town Hall overnight. It was part of the annual Summer Sidewalk Sale, hosted by the Downtown Huntsville BIA. Merchants lined the streets offering up great deals, community groups shared details about their good works, drums and bands provided a musical backdrop, and people of all ages enjoyed the park amidst it all.
The Green Street Challenge is an initiative of Come Alive Outside and Landscape Ontario that is facilitated by community groups and sponsors—in this case the Downtown Huntsville BIA and Rugged Earth Landscaping—that “creates the opportunity to celebrate the importance of outdoor, unstructured play by laying down sod and creating temporary parks on prominent streets,” according to the initiative’s website. The donated sod is laid by volunteers. Following the event, it was picked up by those who had purchased some in advance with the remainder to be donated to a local organization. Proceeds from the sod sales were also to be donated to a green-minded charity.
Among those stationed along the active street were community organizations bringing awareness to and raising funds for their causes.
Ann Hutley and Sharon McNally from the Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary sold raffle tickets for a lovely quilt and shared details about the upcoming Autumn House Tour, which gives ticket holders a glimpse inside six beautiful area homes. The September 22 event includes lunch at the Port Sydney Community Centre and proceeds support equipment at Huntsville Hospital.
Anne Collins, Cynthia Hampton and Carolynn MacKay were there, too, representing the Madill Church Preservation Society, a not-for-profit group that formed to save historic Madill Church from demolition. The group is raising funds to repair the church, which was built in 1872 and 1873, including a new foundation, a new roof, restoration or replacement of some of the logs and replacing the chimney. The group estimates the repairs will cost $70,000. They were selling t-shirts, tote bags and limited edition prints of a painting of the church as part of their fundraising efforts. (See stories related to Madill Church here.)
Check out photos from the event below. If you were there, tell us about it in the comments!
Kids flocked to the toys in the temporary grassy park created on Huntsville’s Main Street for the Summer Sidewalk Sale. It was part of the Green Street Challenge, which encourages kids and their families to get outside.
Shay is learning to be a guide dog. The friendly puppy made lots of new friends at the Summer Sidewalk Sale.
Ann Hutley (left) and Sharon McNally from the Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary sold raffle tickets and told people about an upcoming house tour. Proceeds from both support equipment needs at Huntsville Hospital.
Cynthia Gim from Toronto was amazed by the giant bubbles she could make
Marjory Curry sold colourful beaded keychains
Brenda Brown got up close and personal with a milk snake at the Elephant Thoughts educational display
Kaylee (left) and Marissa Blain from Woodstock had fun building with great big LEGOs
Marika (left) and Stasyia Richardson chill with their friend’s dog Shasta (Photo: Cori-Anne Bliss Richardson)
Stasyia (left) and Marika (right) Richardson share high fives with Henley Stroud
(From left) Anne Collins, Cynthia Hampton and Carolynn MacKay share the work of the Madill Church Preservation Society
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