Jane's Walk (continued)

This article continues the earlier Blog posting on the very successful MHBPNA Jane's Walk on May 2, 2009.

After George Lippert Park and the historic houses (and church) on Louisa, we looped around to the Mt. Hope cemetery and Wayne took us on a guided tour. I found this fascinating because I walk and bike through the cemetery all the time (often on the way to Central to purchase some of their fine produce or other wares). And I read some of the headstones, but with Wayne we walked through many areas where I hadn't wandered previously. He explained how we may not leave many marks while we are living, but a headstone is a permanent marker for all to see many years after we've gone.

Apparently there are no plots left to sell, but there are still a few interments for those that have been sold already. Originally there were two cemeteries, one Catholic and the other public, but over the years they were merged. When you walk through Mt. Hope you can see some of the different areas demarcated by different directions in which the headstones are facing. There will be an interview with Wayne (and more cemetery info) in the summer newsletter.

After the cemetery we walked over to Peltz avenue where Mark talked about different approaches to naturalizing front lawns. He also discussed how one of the initial attractions of 

Peltz was the prevalence of Norway Maples 

planted in rows along each boulevard. These trees look great, but are approaching their old age and are beginning to die out. Unfortunately, the city of Kitchener is not planning for the future by planting newer trees underneath the old ones. They are waiting for the tree to die, and then planting a new one with poor soil and little support. The young tree that Mark showed us had been planted there the previous year, but it looked in poor shape. Unfortunately, it seems like the city has money to purchase downtown properties, but very little to support tree planting and similar activities (we found out about the scarcity of resources at our earlier "eco restoration" meeting--see this blog posting). 

After Peltz avenue we walked down to the B.F. Goodrich Park where the walk officially ended. This park is on a hill very close to the intesection of Guelph Street and the railway tracks. Many people don't know that it is even there because you have to walk up a hill to find it. This was a possible site for eco-restoration and we've had a few suggestions for different types of plants that might add to the aesthetics of the area. Last fall, with all the construction along Guelph Street, a large retaining pond was created petween the park and the railway tracks. No warning was given about this pond, and no landscaping as been done, so this has been added to the agenda for the Neighbourhood Mobilization Alliance. We would like the city to property landscape it.

This walk came together very quicky after Mary suggested it at the eco-restoration meeting; several people volounteered and made it diverse and interesting from start to finish thereby demonstrating the vibrancy and good will that exists in the neighbourhood. I am looking forward to participating in next year's walk.