The Woodlawn Regional Park Authority has found a lasting way to pay tribute to long-time employee Larry Horrocks.
The walking bridge that crosses the Souris River has been named the Larry Horrocks Bridge. A brief ceremony was held at the park on Thursday evening, at which time Horrocks was presented with a plaque that will be affixed to a 4,300-pound boulder at the bridge’s west entrance.
The bridge is a well-used part of the park, as it connects the campground with such amenities as the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field, the Cossette Field ball diamonds and the Souris Valley Theatre.
Horrocks has been working for the park for 24 years. He said he didn’t know a tribute was coming.
“It’s very nice what they’ve done for me for all the years I’ve worked here,” Horrocks told the Mercury. “I never thought it was going to happen in my lifetime, but it did, and I’m very happy about it.”
When he saw the massive boulder at the bridge’s entrance for the first time, he thought it was something that would have to be moved, not realizing it was part of his tribute.
Horrocks said he has always enjoyed his work at the park.
“When I first started working here in 1991, I fell in love with it,” said Horrocks. “I kept coming back every year, and put my heart and soul into the place.”
He has also enjoyed good working relationships with the park’s staff.
“I saw a lot of workers come and go here over the years, and … I saw some bad ones come, and I straightened them out a bit … and they got good jobs out of here,” he said.
Park manager Aaron-Lee Soparlo said Horrocks has been a very valuable employee at the park. He is somebody the park can turn to any day, at any time and for any reason.
“The knowledge he has and the experience he has, he’s just one of those people you can rely on 24-7,” said Soparlo. “He’s a key part of why the park is where it is today.”
Soparlo is pleased the park has been able to come up with something Horrocks will see for the rest of his life. It will also allow Horrocks’ family to see how important he was to the park.
To her knowledge, this is the first time the park has honoured someone in this way.
She noted Horrocks played a key role in the park’s recovery following the flood of 2011, when the Souris River washed away many of the campsites and damaged other amenities. His knowledge of the grounds proved to be instrumental in the reconstruction process.
He also works with the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club.
“He’s always here, somewhere, in the park,” said Soparlo. “He’s that go-to guy who is always here constructing or plumbing. He can cut trees, and he can do anything and everything.”
Horrocks said the park looks great. He never thought it would enjoy such a quick recovery following the floods from four years ago. While he misses the old park, he receives a lot of positive feedback on Woodlawn’s current appearance.
