Green space in River Heights

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/07/2016 (3594 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The coming of spring every year means many people will be out in their gardens, planting flowers and vegetables to enjoy later in the season.

For some of Winnipeg’s dedicated volunteers, however, spring is a chance for them to put their skills to work in places like Montrose Park in River Heights, one of the many areas that are part of the city’s Adopt-a-Park program.

Keeping up with the maintenance of all of the parks and green spaces can be difficult, but Winnipeg’s municipal government has helped to ease the burden through its Adopt-a-Park program. Montrose Park is one of 45 participants in the program, with a group of dedicated volunteers who help to maintain and beautify the green space.

Volunteers help with many aspects of park upkeep, including garbage pickup, weeding and planting flower beds, and otherwise helping to supplement the work of city crews. Montrose Park might be small, but it still involves substantial care from the volunteers during the growing season.

Getting volunteers involved in city projects is not a new idea; as far back as the 1940s, service groups like the Kiwanis and the Optimist Clubs were already helping to sponsor playground equipment in some of the local parks. However, the current program includes many different parts of the community, such as individuals, families, and larger groups.

Montrose Park has the somewhat unique situation of being included with the nearby school grounds in an area called the Montrose Common. One of the goals of the project, according to the Montrose Common website, was to “provide a richer environment for learning and play related to the natural world.”

Providing an appealing space is a challenge in an area that measures just above two acres in size, but the volunteers at Montrose Park do their best. The result is a pleasant park with a large grassy space in the middle, flower beds and benches on the sides, and a few trees and bushes along the edges to help separate the park from the surrounding streets.

Some people might wonder if maintaining such a small area is a good use of resources. However, as the Adopt-a-Park website states, Montrose Park is “another excellent example of how a community, and a school has pulled together to create a very beautiful outdoor experience.”   
   
Susan Huebert is a community correspondent for River Heights.