This week, Loyalist Township council approved the implementation of three new community initiatives developed by Grade 7 and 8 students from Odessa Public School. Earlier this year, Mr. Collins' Grade 7/8 class took part in No. 9 Gardens' Imagining My Sustainable Communities (IMSC) workshop, and were inspired to take action.
Odessa will see a new reading garden created at the Babcock Mill, a purple multi-use pathway that runs along Main Street, and a rainbow crosswalk on Main Street to showcase the area's 2SLGBTQI+ allyship. The engineering and environment division at Loyalist Township noted in their report that these projects were chosen for their ease of implementation within existing capital programs, and could therefore be delivered in a more timely manner. Staff are estimating the completion of these projects to take place in 2024.
Nathan, a student in Mr. Collins' class, spoke about why he's excited to see the township take action.
"We tried to create ideas that are inclusive and help both the people, and the wildlife in this town, and I'm enthusiastic about the idea that creations I helped come up with and worked on could be implemented into the community," said Nathan.
Along with the implementation of these projects, council also approved the transfer of $50,000 from the Amherst Island flood damage repair project. The flood damage repair project was completed in June. While it's costs are still being finalized, there is a known surplus of approximately $423,000 left in the project budget with no additional expenses expected. The $50,000 will go solely towards building the reading garden.
According to staff's report, students explored design and recreation possibilities for the garden, considering potential vandalism, accessibility, and the integration of activities that would appeal to various members of the community. Students from Mr. Collin' class explained how the reading garden will be beneficial.
"A reading garden would bring the community together. People could gather there to do the things they love. Book clubs, knitting groups, and artists would find the space useful," said the students.
For the rainbow crosswalk, the cost of paint and labour compared to installing a standard white crosswalk is anticipated to be approximately $5,000. The township will be using thermoplastic road markings which provide a longer life-span compared to standard road paint. Colouring the multi-use pathway is estimated to cost $5,000. The final cost of these two projects will be included in the township's 2024 capital budget. Staff noted in their report that these new initiatives will also lead to on-going maintenance costs.
According to the report, the rainbow crosswalk and purple pathway were suggested as vibrant additions to Odessa's urban landscape that will reflect the community's diversity, and inclusive values. Students from Mr. Collin' class noted the town's inclusivity.
"In Odessa, we are a community that accepts people for who they are, and believe in treating everyone with respect. By having a rainbow crosswalk in our community, there will be representation for a group of people who don’t get as much attention or support as many other groups. It also adds a pop of colour to a dull spot in town," said the students.
The IMSC program is an award-winning four-day workshop developed and run by No. 9 Gardens. Professional architects, artists, and designers deliver the program to students in Grades 7 through 12, providing them with the knowledge and resources to create scale models of their vision for a sustainable future. The program focuses on teaching students about the 9 pillars they have developed for creating sustainable communities. These pillars are green space, green building design, public art and design, urban agriculture and food security, waste management, water management, alternative energies, mass transit and mobility, and civic engagement, leadership, and inclusivity. Students are encouraged to weave ideas from several pillars into their creations.
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