Public input sought at Wednesday evening meeting
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‘The only constant is change’ is a cliché applying appropriately and in a timely manner to Tillsonburg’s Memorial Park.
Renovation of outdated structures has begun. The horse barn is already a memory, and shortly after Easter, the grandstand is scheduled to follow.
“Right through this process, people are going to see some fairly dramatic changes,” said Town of Tillsonburg Director of Park and Recreation Rick Cox.
What is coming down has already been decided. What remains very much up in the air is what, if anything, will be going back up in their place. A trio of meetings have been scheduled to facilitate the discussion, and importantly, to open it up to the public who currently make use of Memorial Park and will continue to do so in the future.
The first, very much a public forum, opens tonight (Wednesday, April 9) inside the complex at 6:30 p.m. Cox isn’t sure what he’ll hear, but he’s ready for virtually anything as the community will have its best chance to speak on their park’s future.
“We have made no decision other than the grandstand is coming down,” he emphasized Monday morning inside town offices. “What’s coming next has not been decided.
“What would be a shame is if it was status quo because we didn’t’ ask the question.”
The process will continue Wednesday, April 16 beginning at 6:30 p.m. as community stakeholders in the park’s current facilities will have an opportunity to present their vision, ask questions and raise any concerns. A third meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, a public information session (also opening at 6:30 p.m.) during which tabulated findings will be presented to the public.
Cox is hoping for significant input from the public as the process unfolds.
“That’s why we’re doing this,” he said, adding a personal invitation to the process, in conclusion.
“This is the public’s chance to tell us what they want to see… and tell us what they don’t want to see.”