Park at John St. W. in Blenheim. (Submitted by Jack Rigby)Park at John St. W. in Blenheim. (Submitted by Jack Rigby)
Chatham

Blenheim Park Is The 'People's Choice'

Chatham-Kent has chosen this year's "People's Choice" for the Mayor's Heritage Preservation Awards.

The Blenheim Rotary Club and Ridge Landfill Community Trust have received the most online votes for Talbot Trail Place located on John St. W in Blenheim.

President of the Rotary Club Nancy Penney says she's thrilled with the outcome.

"We couldn't be more proud and thankful," says Penney. "If it wasn't for some of our community people we would not have the park that we have today."

The park had been one of five properties nominated for this year’s "People's Choice," after also receiving a Mayor’s Heritage Preservation Award.

Penney says the park only recently opened to the public this year, offering locals plenty to do during the summer months.

"It's a beautiful water park," says Penney. "It's got a band-shell, we hold concerts every Thursday night from June until September."

One of the people responsible for spearheading the project, Jack Rigby says it's an honour to receive the award.

"We've had a lot of favorable comments about how the park is laid out and the beauty of it," he says. "It adds to the town."

Ridgby says before the park was built there used to be an abandoned supermarket, which made the area look rundown. In noticing this blemish in the community, the Rotary Club and Ridge Landfill Community Trust made the transformation.

"It was eight to ten years in the planning and the building of the park," says Rigby. "We built it as the money came in, we made a vow that we would never borrow money to build it so we had a campaigning to raise funds."

Rigby says a lot of people had been involved in the project and this recognition means a lot to the group as a whole.

Park at John St. W. in Blenheim. (Submitted by Jack Rigby)Park at John St. W. in Blenheim. (Submitted by Jack Rigby)

Park at John St. W. in Blenheim. (Submitted by Jack Rigby)Park at John St. W. in Blenheim. (Submitted by Jack Rigby)

Park at John St. W. in Blenheim. (Submitted by Jack Rigby)Park at John St. W. in Blenheim. (Submitted by Jack Rigby)

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