Mayor Roy Ludwig and Estevan city council unveiled the new name of the renewed Centennial Park Friday morning.
The green area, located at the corner of Smith Street and Souris Avenue North, is now officially called Dennis Moore Centennial Park.
As Ludwig put it, Moore, a long-term businessman and city councillor, was the “driving force behind the improvements in this park.”
While structures in city parks are still closed to the public due to COVID-19, and there are still a few more final touches to be made in Dennis Moore Centennial Park, the main structures are already in place and the park is looking great.
“It’s a whole new life for Centennial Park. It really is. People are going to know where Centennial Park is and they are going to really appreciate what’s happened. It was a really great thing to do, and now that it’s done we just have to wait for this (pandemic) to get over,” said Moore.
During the naming rights ceremony, he recalled the situation, when his wife was asked for directions to the park while the person was standing right next to it. Moore built a house in the area in 1972 and said that it’s been “a real, real great place to live.” He since moved to a different location, but he always had warm feelings for the area and the park, which he believes was unreasonably forgotten for many years.
So when the idea of the third splash park came up, he was the one who insisted the project take place at the Centennial Park.
“It was the best location we could find with all the amenities around.”
And now, when the construction is almost completed, the decision was made to dedicate the park to the person who ensured that it would get a new life.
“It’s a great feeling, lots of pride … We did it and had good support from the council and our partner Tim Hortons. And to have it just about complete, I can’t believe it. I’m just overjoyed by it. They all came on board and put it together and cleaned up the nice little area that really wasn’t much attention paid to,” said Moore.
Dennis Moore Centennial Park was reconstructed in association with Tim Hortons. They announced in the fall that the proceeds from their annual Smile Cookie campaign would be going towards the new splash park construction and the cheque for almost $12,000 was presented to the City of Estevan last November.
The park will be the third splash park in Estevan and it promises to bring a lot of joy and happy moments to the community once the restrictions are lifted and the park is opened.
When finished, the park will have an accessible play structure, splash pad, walking path, picnic area, seasonal washrooms, multipurpose grass space, benches and electrical and water hookups available for special events. Dogs will be allowed only on a leash.
The park is built in traditional Canadian red and white colours and is decorated with maple-leaf flags. A water tower, which is a part of a splash structure, is located under the Estevan’s landmark water tower.
“It will be well maintained and I think it will be very busy, mostly because of what it is and the location. I think it’s going to be good for seniors and other people to go and sit, as we’ve got benches and we are going to put more in,” said Moore.
He also pointed out that with all the play structures and water features, the place will first of all be great for kids.
“I’m really excited that it’s done. And I feel really bad that we didn’t do something before. Things only happen if they are being pushed by an individual or a group.”
Moore thanked the city and Tim Hortons for support and also praised Rod March, the city’s parks and facilities manager, for creating another thought through and beautiful corner in Estevan.
“(Rod March) has put his heart and soul into making that right,” said Moore.
“It will be a real asset to the city and the surrounding area if you want to bring your kids into town and have a nice place to go to for lunch and watch your kids.”
The park project was approved last year. The construction on the splash pad began at the end of July last year. Now most of the work is completed, with just the accessible pad, seasonal washrooms and a few benches left to install in the near future. However, the park won’t open until the pandemic-related restrictions are lifted.
For video from the ceremony see www.estevanmercury.ca.
