Media Room

News Release

Mayor Kelly Officially Launches Victoria Park Rejuvenation

(Wednesday, July 17/2002) -- Mayor Peter Kelly officially launched a rejuvenation project for Victoria Park in south end Halifax this morning.

The Spring Garden Road Business Association, The Metro Food Bank Society and the Capital District of the Halifax Regional Municipality are working together to revitalize Victoria Park, at the corner of Spring Garden Road, Tower Road and South Park Street.

Mayor Kelly said "Not only is this project a refurbishment of one of our most popular parks, but it will serve as a legacy for residents of HRM through the sale of bricks for the Metro Food Bank Society. It is an exciting new partnership."

The three-member partnership entails the following improvements to Victoria Park:

• Relocate the Robbie Burns statue back from its present site by 30 feet
• Replace the asphalt walkways with bricks
• Bricks will be used in part for fund-raising, each with a sponsor's name engraved
• An entertainment venue will be created in the open space in front of the Burns statue, accommodating up to 200 people
• Electrical service upgrade
• Additional shrubs, flowers, benches, and new, Victorian light standards

Jane MacLellan, chair of the Spring Garden Road Business Association, said, "The revitalized park area will provide a designated space for a new outdoor entertainment venue, really giving a sense of community to Halifax's busiest street."

The sale of bricks in the park is a fundraising element for completing the project and for the Metro Food Bank Society. Each brick will carry a sponsorship fee of $50 and each will be personally engraved with the name of the donor . More than 200 bricks have been sold already.

Dianne Swinemar, Executive Director of the Metro Food Bank Society said, "This project is an acknowledgement of all the community support we've received over the past 18 years."

Expected completion date for the Victoria Park rejuvenation is Labour Day.

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Sally Christie
Communications Officer, Capital District
(902) 490-6094