Stephen Thirlwall
Rosemary Leslie, a park neighbour, gave a beautiful online description of Dundonald Park: “It has got everything: downtown, trees, green space, kids’ play area, dog walking area, game tables, benches, outdoor movies, festivals, teens, business people, guitar players, frisbee players, gov’t workers, neighbours (like me!), people from every nationality and background, dancers, yoga, drum players, tai chi, BBQ’s, snowmen, picnics, birds, love, peace . . . .”
How did this Centretown park develop? Through attention every year by neighbours, community groups, and local social agencies.
Dundonald Park has been a fixture in Ottawa for 116 years. Before that, it was an unsurveyed “waterworks lot” known as Somerset Square that was informally used as a park.
Its formal designation came in 1904 when it was named after Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald. He served in major British campaigns in Africa and the Middle East in the 1880s and 1890s, including the relief of Khartoum and the Boer War. He was the last British officer to command Canadian troops and developed plans for a Canadian citizen army.
The park comprises a full residential-sized city block, fronted by Somerset Street West on the north, Lyon and Bay Streets on the east and west sides, and Maclaren Street to the south.
The park’s initial development was arranged through the Ottawa Improvement Committee (forerunner of the National Capital Commission) and completed in 1907. During 1913, a well was drilled providing civic drinking water for the park. However, parks need regular attention. Even in the early days, newspaper articles asked who was responsible for the continuing care and protection of the park. Vandalism was identified as the most consistent problem facing it.
The first Friends of Dundonald Park
In 1994, Susan Kerr and Suzanne Harding made a semi-formal agreement with the city to restore and care for the park’s flower beds. A small group of park neighbours and their friends formed the Friends of Dundonald Park. They continued this beautification work on and off until early 2017, when the agreement was terminated. Susan recalled, “Gardening in Dundonald Park enriched my life and I hope others will also have access to that experience.”
Oddly, in fall 2017, Friends of Dundonald Park were one of eight organizations from the region honoured by the International Tulip Festival for their decorative garden work. My wife Nathalie and I attended the Tulip Gala, receiving the award on the group’s behalf because lead members were no longer in Ottawa. Special tulip bulbs were received from the festival to plant at the park.
A vibrant and welcoming place for all
In the 2010s, the Centretown Community Health Centre (CCHC) unveiled a plan to regenerate Dundonald Park, supported by the city, other service providers, and community groups. The centre’s aim was to make it “a vibrant, welcoming place that is open and accessible to everyone regardless of age, ability, background or social status.” It encouraged a healthy environment for sunbathing, napping, quiet chatting and reading; dog walking; jogging, Tai Chi, yoga, games; music; children’s and community events including movie nights. The Centretown Community Association’s Tree and Greenspace Committee (T&G) collaborated with CCHC and various other groups to hold well-attended Earth Day celebrations and fall fairs. For several years, this greatly improved the park’s atmosphere and discouraged misuse of the park, particularly crime, drugs and alcohol.
As with everything, there are cycles of ups and downs. A few years ago, the CCHC had to stop its activity in the park. T&G and some other groups maintained certain activities, but other things such as garden upkeep were not happening.
As well as the good side of the park, there has always been a bad side with problems of vandalism (e.g., broken benches, tables, signs, and light bulbs, and damaged gardens); drinking alcohol, smoking and drug use (including dropped needles); strewn garbage; excessive noise; and the use of the garden as a toilet.
Stephen Thirlwall/The BUZZ
A new team
During 2017-2018, discussions began on developing a new team to care for and develop the park’s trees and flower gardens. T&G, which looks into issues regarding Centretown’s trees and greenspaces, decided to work toward establishing this group. Brian Beaven was very much responsible for achieving this goal and obtaining a licence of occupation for the flower beds.
In the summer and fall of 2019, a massive cleanup started in the garden removing weeds and planting numerous new plants. A big challenge was to remove goutweed that was strangling the other plants. As the group rallied again in early spring this year, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the city. From July through September, the garden group continued its work while social distancing. During this period, Barbara Sibbald provided an organized plan and operation for garden development that is still ongoing.
In September, some members of T&G initiated the formation of the Dundonald Improvement Group (DIG) to address various other park issues of safety, unacceptable behaviours of individuals, a nearby public toilet and increasing park activities. So far, there have been several meetings involving various parties: T&G, CCHC, Somerset West Community Health Centre, the councillor’s office, neighbourhood police, the Salvation Army service group, and neighbours of the park.
In compiling this brief look at Dundonald Park and its activities, thanks go to Christopher Ryan for recording some of the early history; Donna Holtom, a previous Friend, for collecting various information; and Brian Beaven for sharing materials. Thanks also go to those who offered many hours of volunteer work in the gardens: Barbara, Stuart, Luc, Brian, Donna, Michelle, Dinah, Alice, Kristina, Deborah, Bonnie, Richard, Darlene and others.
Everyone is welcome to come to the park, but with this comes the hope that all will treat the park well, so that it continues to be a special haven for enjoying greenery, meeting friends and doing other activities.
It took great foresight back in the early 1900s to establish a park that still exists and thrives 116 years later. It will take immense foresight and creativity to establish some other new, urgently needed park spaces in Centretown during this time of urban intensification.