Thunder Bay's Chippewa Park set for makeover
End of cottage leases, new rules for amusement rides, changing attitudes about zoos prompt new plan
The heritage carousel horses have been an attraction at Chippewa Park for nearly a century, but now you might not have to go to the park to admire them.
The elaborate equines broke free of their merry-go-round and trotted across town on Monday to visit the city's Family Day activities in an attempt to entice people into a conversation about the future of Chippewa Park.
It was the first of two public consultations the City of Thunder Bay is holding about the future of the historic park, established in 1921, on the shores of Lake Superior.
"Maybe [the carousel horses] are not something that needs to stay at Chippewa Park and maybe that might open up new opportunities for new events and new programming at Chippewa," said Erin Pietersma, a landscape architect working with the city on the project.
The last planning exercise for Chippewa Park took place in 2000 and much as changed since then, said Werner Schwar, the supervisor of parks and open space planning with the city.
He said those changes include:
- the end of cottage leases at Chippewa Park
- changes in the regulations around roller coasters and other amusement rides
- changing public opinions about zoos and wildlife exhibits like the one at Chippewa
"We want to hear from people what they currently like about the park; what they think are some of the issues or needs improvement and the kind of things they'd like to see in the ideal world," Schwar said.
Chippewa Park has a warm place in the memories of many people in Thunder Bay, he said.
"People from the city and factory workers would go there for respite," he said. "So it really has a great history in that respect and it has a great beach, Sandy Beach, with a view of the Sleeping Giant."
The consultants will compile the feedback they gathered at the Family Day event and a meeting this week with stakeholders of Chippewa Park and then present it at a second consultation meeting, he said.
A date has yet to be set for that presentation.
Schwar says any new plan for Chippewa will depend on the budget approval from city council.