Citizens Step Up

For a hundred years, Chippewa Park was the “go to” destination for residents of Fort William and Thunder Bay who sought a break from the city. It was the jewel in the crown of the city’s recreational facilities.

After the 1980’s, however, there was a significant decline in the number of visitors to the park.

The development of other venues for public events within the city, e.g., Prince Arthur’s Landing, drew visitors away from the park. The removal of approximately 80 summer camps at Sandy Beach eliminated a large base of regular park users. The cancellation of bus service and the 5-year closure of the CN Swing Bridge made the park less accessible.

Years of 0% increases in City budgets also took their toll. In the last twenty years, staffing and maintenance budgets were reduced, and many of the attractions that brought people to the park were either downgraded or eliminated.

In 2000, the City developed a master plan to map out the park’s future. One of the recommendations was for the creation of a citizens’ advocacy group to monitor, support, and influence the plan’s implementation. 

Thus was born The Friends of Chippewa Park (TFOCP).

This newly-formed group appeared before Council in 2002 and was awarded $250,000 to support of its efforts. Council later added another $250,000 with a condition that it be matched with funds from other sources. This was an encouraging first step in the TFOCP’s efforts to reverse the park’s decline and to renew many of its features and attractions.

Over the past 20 years, TFOCP have raised and invested approximately $10 million to refurbish Chippewa Park. Twenty five percent was contributed by the City of Thunder Bay through the Parks Department. The rest came from various federal and provincial government funding programs, private sector donations, and individual donors. It also includes the dollar-value of many in-kind contributions by volunteers.

The first priority was to upgrade the park’s infrastructure. This meant bringing all electrical and potable water systems up to modern standards. As well, there were major renovations on the pavilion and dance hall, and the construction of a new maintenance shed for the amusement rides. One of its biggest projects was the ongoing restoration of Chippewa’s carousel. At one point over 100 Job Creation Partnership participants were on site working on a variety of projects

Extensive work was done to improve the water quality of the main swimming beach. While water quality levels have yet to reach the acceptable level, continuing efforts are being made to bring about the re-opening of the beach.

At the Tourist Camp, a new reception centre and seven wheelchair accessible log cabins were built. The 1960’s RV  Park was totally revised with a new layout to accommodate larger units. The washooms and shower rooms were upgraded to meet accessibility standards of the day.

 Over the past twenty years, Parks and Open Spaces has been able to secure some funding from Council for additional upgrades throughout the park..

The work of TFOCP did not stop at renewal but included a variety of activities and entertainments. Once of the first and ongoing ones is the free concert series Sundays in the Park. Another is the volunteer led Tuesday night Jam Sessions which fill the dance hall all summer long. 

For ten years, TFOCP has organized the Bill Beavis Family Fun Day each June – a free event celebrating families together. The Rob McLeod Capital Players brought Melodrama back to the park twice weekly each July. Each weekend sees weddings, showers or reunions in the park and pavilion. Kite festivals and antique car shows have also become annual affairs. 

Through its leadership and initiative, coupled with its ability to raise additional funding, The Friends of Chippewa Park have contributed immeasurably to the City’s efforts to revitalize Chippewa. In the final installment of the series next week, a vision of the park’s future will show how Chippewa can regain its status as the crown jewel of the city’s recreational facilities for generations to come.