A new amenity is complete in the far corner of Maffeo Sutton Park, by the seashore.
Rotary Centennial Garden is now officially open in the northern point of the park near the playground.
The Rotary Club of Nanaimo proposed the garden as a legacy project timed to be completed for Rotary’s 100th anniversary of service in the Nanaimo region. The amenity includes a brickwork plaza, garden beds, seating, pergolas and lighting.
Rotarians and city councillors and staff gathered for an informal opening celebration earlier in the fall, but Mayor Leonard Krog declared the garden officially open at this past Monday’s city council meeting. He thanked Rotary clubs for a “very sweet 100 years” of contributions to the community.
“The good work of Rotarians is seen all over this town and this is just one further, wonderful example of what happens when people get together and collectively pool their efforts, their money, their resources and their interests and work in conjunction with others to create something that is quite wonderful,” Krog said.
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A delegation from the Rotary Club of Nanaimo will come before council tomorrow to thank the city for supporting the...
Posted by Nanaimo News Bulletin on Sunday, October 18, 2020
Bob James, Rotary Club of Nanaimo president, said in a press release that the garden is a reflection of the club’s vision to create a beautiful, public space accessible to everyone. He expressed thanks to the city, as did Rotarian Dave Hammond when he addressed council Monday night.
“We wanted to create something special to recognize our 100th anniversary and I think this is special,” he said. “We’re really pleased with the way that it turned out.”
A city press release noted that the garden’s design is inspired by the shoreline and “emulates the waves and ripples of the ocean, the logs that roll up on shore and the vegetation that grows along the beach edges.”
Rotarians donated $200,000 toward the project, more than half the total cost.
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