A Labour of Love

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Published on Saturday, 24 January 2009 07:05

Written by cathedral

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For years, an Esso gas station was situated on the north side of Albert and 15th. After the station closed, the lot sat vacant for some time due to prohibitive redevelopment costs.

 

The Cathedral Area Community Association (CACA) approached Imperial Oil in 1998 with a proposal to build a park at this location. An agreement was reached and CACA entered into a leasing agreement with Imperial Oil for a nominal charge.

 

To honour the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, CACA board members chose a human rights theme for the park. The United Nations declaration recognized the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

 

The park began to come to life in May, 1999. Topsoil was donated by City of Regina. Underground sprinklers were installed and CACA covered the cost. A raffle was undertaken and the proceeds bought 400 square yards of sod. Sask Abilities built and donated picnic tables. Play Safe hard rubber surface were donated by Saskatchewan Scrap Tire Corporation.

 

CACA commissioned a mural for the side of a building on the park's north border. Local artist Zhong-Ru Huang completed the stunning work which was dedicated in December, 1999. Unfortunately the mural, which is featured in our website banner, was painted over by the building's owner this year. 

 

The mural commemorates human rights and the hope that the entire world can live together in peace and harmony. The United Nations symbol forms a backdrop behind childrens' hands representing people of different backgrounds. Three hands hold a piece of the backdrop (the piece that would fit where the building's windows are) to show that each of us holds a piece of the puzzle to attain world peace. A dove flies overhead and one hand reaches toward the dove to symbolize humanity's attempts to achieve world peace.

 

After that impressive start, the park grew by leaps and bounds. Raffles offering art work donated by area artists provided the necessary funds to make a good thing even better. Many community members donated their spare time to tend to the flowers, weed and mow the grass and clean up the area in the fall. Members of Amnesty International planted trees as part of their Canadian Annual General Meeting.

 

We have to mention the Garden's most dedicated volunteer and Head Gardener, Eric Ashton. Eric can often be seen pulling weeds or building and tending flower beds. CACA would also like to thank Pat Alberts, who was in on the project from its inception

 

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