After five longs years Marg Snider-McGrath’s dream, of a memorial park for the former lawn bowling green on Queen St., is about to become a reality.
On Saturday, October 4, “Reflection Park” was officially opened with pomp and ceremony, including a visit by Durham MP Bev Oda, Mayor Marilyn Pearce and members of council.
The ceremony is scheduled to get underway at 11 a.m. with dignitaries, veterans and students representing Scugog’s nine elementary schools parading into the park led by a piper.
The ceremony will include a tribute to local war veterans, music ensembles from Port Perry High School Jazz Band, Choir and Prince Albert Public School Drummers.
More than 2,000 children from local schools, along with countless volunteers have worked for years to bring the park toreality.
Aerial view of Reflection Park before opening in September
Mark Snider-McGrath with a few of the 2,000 students
who helped create the mosiacs for the park
2000 Elementary Students Create An Everlasting Monument for Peace
The Reflection Park project was a collaborative endeavour involving Port Perry elementary and high school students and staff, artists, and community members. It combined the ideas, energy and talent of the youth of Scugog Township and their community supporters to encourage citizenship and volunteering.
The focus was to involve the youth of today in a meaningful, hands-on community project. This goal was accomplished in three ways. First, the stone pebble mosaic was created by the hands of over two thousand elementary students in Scugog from ages three to thirteen. Lake Scugog, one of Southern Ontario’s largest bodies of water, was the stimulus for the students to investigate designs characteristic of the flora and fauna of our area. Inspiration for the mosaic was drawn from the local surroundings and student designs epitomize the relationship with the lake.
As you stroll by the mosaic, you will see pebble formations depicting indigenous aquatic species such as fish, heron and turtles incorporated into the design using coloured pebbles from all over the world, with local river rock making up the background. Some of the coloured pebbles traveled from as far away as Indonesia and Mexico to realistically depict frogs, plants and turtles. The mosaic is comprised of over 150 moulds created by the students. Each school was responsible for building 15-20 moulds that, when placed together like a puzzle, created one of 9 sections of the overall 260 square foot design.
This project combines the ideas, energy and skills of the youth, professional artists and community members in an effort to beautify and stimulate the community for many years to come. The students of Scugog Township have created a magnificant example of what can be accomplished collaboratively and cooperatively.
Secondly, each school chose a specific flower to beautify the surrounding landscape garden design. Finally, students collaborated on reflective statements based on promoting good citizenship which are now on plaques nestled in the flower beds. These experiences gave the students a true sense of ownership and a chance to contribute positively to their community.
On October 4, 2008, at 11 a.m. the community honoured these students and the garden and mosaics during an official Opening Ceremony. As you read the plaques, consider the role you play in your community and in the world. By reflecting and acting on these sayings, together we can make the world a better place.
Enjoy Reflection Park. It was created for you.
Reflection Park is located on Queen Street, Port Perry, Ontario. For more information please, call 905-985-1534.
Marg Snider-McGrath and Bonnie Thompson
at the entrance to the Reflection Park
One of the plaques created by local school students
Up in the air. Martha Larsen is lifted 65 feet above Reflection
Park by hydro workers with Veridian Corporation
to take pictures of the park.
John
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