CITY BRIEF: Tree Carving Comes With Harmful Risks To Trees

WELLAND – The City of Welland is urging residents to refrain from carving on trees in public spaces. This harmful practice exposes trees to the introduction of diseases and pests.

Cutting the bark disrupts the tree’s ability to transport nutrients through its stem, compromising its overall health and potentially leading to the tree’s premature death. These damages are not only detrimental to the tree but can also affect the overall tree canopy that provides shade, oxygen, and habitat for wildlife.

The City of Welland encourages everyone to visit, enjoy, and respect our public spaces by leaving no mark other than footprints.

Parks bylaw 1983-7664 states that cutting, breaking, injuring, defacing grass, trees, shrubs, or any growing plant carries a fine. If tree vandalism is witnessed, please report it to the bylaw department at 905-735-1700 x2224 or x3000 after hours.

Parks and forestry staff should be made aware of tree damage by emailing parksandforestry@welland.ca.

Together, we can ensure our trees remain healthy and vibrant for future generations.

Attribution: City of Welland news release

Barky’s Billboard

Please support/attend this outdoor community event

Barky’s Billboard is a recurring feature on the blog./Supplied graphic

Best Seller

CAPTION: Stopped by our public library on the weekend to check out a couple of good reads and also to pick up this t-shirt celebrating the library’s 200-year history in the community. It’s navy blue and shows a side view of Civic Square/City Hall and the exterior entrance to the library. I think the image is outstanding. At the bottom left corner are the words: WPL 200 Years. The price is right, just $15. I think this is bound to be a best seller for Welland public library. /Joe Barkovich photo.

Barky’s Billboard

A chance to bridge years gone by and be part of this unforgettable day in local history. See you there!

Barky’s Billboard is a recurring feature on the blog. /Supplied graphic

Barky’s Billboard

Please support/attend this insightful community event

Barky’s Billboard is a recurring feature on the blog./Supplied graphic.

Gadabout Gardener: After The Garden Hose Shower, Feeling Perky Again

Gadabout Gardener will appear on the site once or twice monthly until fall./Joe Barkovich photos.

Gadabout Gardener: Roses To The Rose City’s Horticultural Staff For Outstanding Work

Captions: Top row, Broadway at Highway 58; Prince Charles Drive at Colbeck Drive. Bottom: Prince Charles Drive at First Avenue; Niagara Street at Riverbank; and Ontario Road at Southworth Street.

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large; Photos by Tony Gallaccio 

WELLAND – It would be uncharacteristic of me to drive by the city’s floral display tribute beds without turning my head to give them a second look. Or a third. 

It would be uncharacteristic of me to let the summer go by without commenting on how they contribute to the local landscape. Not just this year. But year after year.

The beds are nothing less than works of floral art.

I’ve felt that way for years.

The five beds are: Prince Charles Drive at First Avenue, Prince Charles Drive at Colbeck Drive, Broadway at Highway 58, Niagara Street at Riverbank and Ontario Road at Southworth Street. Watch them fill out as the days go by.

The beds pay tribute to community groups or institutions celebrating significant milestone anniversaries or holding special events, for example. Or they can be lighthearted, fun salutes to cultural icons. Themes of three of the beds are:

Prince Charles Drive at First Avenue: 2024, Chinese Year of the Dragon,

Prince Charles Drive at Colbeck Drive: RCAFAssociation  434 Wing Welland, 100th anniversary

Broadway at Highway 58: Welland Lodge 617, Croatian Fraternal Union of America, 100th anniversary;

The tribute beds showcase the talent of the city’s own gardeners of course. But they are also significant for shining a light on community groups, organizations and events and their importance in the community. Oftentimes, they go overlooked or are unappreciated.

I’m not the first to compliment city staff for their fine work in these tribute beds and I won’t be the last. Here it comes: Great work, City of Welland horticultural staff – you rose to the occasion once again! We’re proud of you.

Gadabout Gardener will appear on the site once or twice monthly until fall.

CITY BRIEF: Memorial Park Playground Safety Concerns Prompt Immediate Closure

WELLAND – Due to recent safety inspections, urgent action is required to ensure public safety at the Memorial Park playground and swing area. As a result of these findings, we are closing the playground and swing area until such time as the equipment can be replaced and restored to its highest standard of safety.

During an inspection on July 4, we discovered that the steel mesh at multiple points on the playground has detached from the decking, posing a significant risk of injury. Additionally, the surfacing material has failed energy absorbency tests at various spots, including the swing area, which retains water.

To mitigate risks to the public, staff will install temporary fencing around the affected areas.

The safety and well-being of our community members, especially children, remain our utmost priority. We appreciate your cooperation, patience, and understanding as we work diligently to address these safety concerns and ensure a secure environment for all park users.

At this time, there is no anticipated date for reopening.

Attribution: City of Welland release

Central Station A Participant In Canada-Wide Historic Places Days Event

National exposure, prestige for the city will be ‘immense’

/File photo

WELLAND – Welland’s Central Fire Station will have an exciting opportunity to participate in the Canada-wide Historic Places Days event, July 10th to 17th, run by the National Trust of Canada, the same organization that recently ran the NEXT GREAT SAVE national contest.

The Central Fire Station will be advertised on the Historic Places Days national website and social media, as a historic place to visit.

There will be a cash contest for visitors to take a selfie, post on Instagram and Facebook, and tag and follow the Central Fire Station and National Trust.  The national exposure and prestige for Welland will be immense.

Visitors from all across Canada will be encouraged to visit the Central Fire Station from Wednesday July 10th until Wednesday July 17th.  There will be limited access to the interior of the Fire Station every day during the contest, from 2-4 PM.

Contest details:  Visitors take a selfie at the historic place and post on social media, tagging the venue, National Trust for Canada and Historic Places Days.  Three grand prize winners will receive a cash prize of $500.

Grand Prize Draw: Photo/video entries will be placed in a random draw to win one of three grand prizes! Each grand prize consists of $500 for yourself and $500 for the site you tagged. One grand prize will be drawn on Sunday, and the remaining two will be drawn on the final day!

Daily Prize Draws: Daily prizes will be awarded starting the day after the launch day! Daily Prize draws include: 

7 Parks Canada Passes;  

7 Canada’s History Subscriptions;  

7 Canadian Geographic Magazine Subscriptions; and 

7 National Trust Memberships. 

For more details, please visit the website http://www.historicplacesdays.ca

(Attribution: Central Station media release)

Expect Memorial Pool To Make A Big Splash In Welland

 WELLAND – On Saturday, July 6, the City of Welland will welcome its first swimmers of the summer to the newly renovated Memorial Park pool, located at 405 Memorial Park Drive. This landmark project revitalizes the city’s busiest outdoor public pool, originally constructed in the late 1950s.

Recognizing the critical need for modernization due to the facility’s age and condition, the City of Welland approved the appointment of architects Tillman Ruth Robinson to design the proposed improvements in 2021. The pool has been closed since (when in 2023) for work to be completed.

“We are incredibly excited to unveil the revitalized Memorial Park pool to our community,” said Jessica Ruddell, director of community services. “This project represents our commitment to providing top-tier recreational facilities that are inclusive, accessible, and designed to meet the needs of all our residents. We look forward to seeing families and individuals enjoy this state-of-the-art facility for many years to come.”

The new facility boasts a range of new features, including:

• A 50-metre lane swim area complete with an accessibility ramp
• A deep-end area with a diving board and climbing wall
• A zero-entry “beach” shallow area with play structures
• Teaching steps
• Shade and lounge areas
• Fully accessible washroom areas based on universal changeroom design
• Fully accessible external washrooms to service the nearby park and splash pad

Following comprehensive assessments in 2016 and 2020 identifying significant investment needs, Welland City Council approved design services to replace the pool in 2021.

Information about the grand opening event, scheduled for July 29, from 5 to 7 p.m., will be shared in the coming weeks. For the schedule of all City pools, please click here.

(Attribution: City of Welland media release)