Park revival efforts pay off.

• Author: Louiseize, Kelly
• Position: Chippewa Park undergoing major reconstruction

Establishing a park on the shores of Thunder Bay in the 1920s was a dream come true for one long-time resident of the city. However, over the last 10 years the 270-acre site had fallen into disrepair. Structures were deteriorating and the beach had to be closed due to high E-coli counts. Now Chippewa Park is undergoing major reconstruction with the hopes of making the area the popular destination haven it once was.

Iain Angus, one of the drivers and dreamers behind the revitalization process, says the idea started with a master plan, which was developed for the city in 2001. This study indicated that if renovations were carried out, as suggested in the plan, then the park would experience a three-fold attendance increase within its first year. The study also showed that the economic impact of the park is $158 to $160 per person per day.

"We were heartsick with the kind of deterioration that we saw," Angus, secretary for Friends of Chippewa and chair of Bringing Chippewa Park's Past into the Future Committee, says.

Word was out that further cuts to municipalities were forthcoming. With the condition of the park declining, he and a few residents decided to start an organization, Friends of Chippewa, to revitalize the area. Each of the, board of directors are somehow counected to the park through past relationships.

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In fact one couple met out there.

"His grandmother was the chief cook in the dining room for years. His brother was the superintendent," Angus remembers.

Angus also has his own nostalgic memories.

"I grew up there," Angus says. "My parents ran the tourist camp from 1946 to 1970:"

It has been nearly 82 years since its opening, and Angus wants to bring the park back from the past into the future.

"This is why we are out there doing this. That place is part of us."

At a Thunder Bay council meeting in 2001, members of the organization pled their case, which resulted in no cuts to the park. In fact, the city contributed over $500,000 to the cause.

"We have a council that is concerned about pro-quality life issues," Angus says.

The moon and stars were aligned, since funding in the form of $1.4 million from Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, $500,000 from FedNor, $500,000 from Heritage Canada and $300,000 from private sectors, along with other government agencies fell in to place, Angus says.

Equipped with solid funding, the organization decided to begin physical work on the property 10 months ago and have made great strides since. Already...