Connecting park with Viewmount’s people

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

The Deveaus made a stab at clearing up their community park last year; this year, they’ve take the project on with a vengeance.

“We’ve hauled away 10 or 12 truckloads of brush – all we could pile on,” says Joe Deveau.

“Now, every time I come in to mow, there’s a new set of spin tracks in here.”

The family – Joe and wife Lois, and children Krystal, Laura, Joe-Ellen and Tena – are also busy picking up garbage and bottles. Their working on a way to “leg-iron” picnic tables donated by the Burlington Community Club to fittings so they can’t be stolen, like ones were in years past. They want people to treat this park as a community asset for Viewmount, which has nothing else, really, to mark its existence.

It’s a sin, because everyone used to come over here and have picnics,” Laura says.

The park was created 20-plus years ago by Vance Balsor, just down the eastern end of the Brow Mountain Road that crosses the Long Point Road here in this small community. He leveled off the ground of the triangle between the intersection, cleared out some brush, added the first picnic tables and set up a distinctive feature;:a huge black ship’s buoy with a map of the community on it, individual white houses labeled with the names of residents then living nearby .

Over time, the ball’s painting has faded – redone once by one of the closest neighbours who realized when he moved in his newer home wasn’t depicted. The brush had gotten out of hand again, and no one passing through would ever realize the park was there.

The Deveaus have tackled the brush-clearing, the regular mowing, garbage pick-up and more in just a couple of months. The park looks 100 per cent better; it looks like a park.

“I’d love to come here with my family and have a picnic, and the kids could run around on the grass and just play,” Lois says.

They’ve had some help: neighbours and Viewmount residents who’ve noticed the activity have been by with tractors to smooth the ground – and compliments.

“Vance has been over, and he said it looked lovely,” Lois says.

The family also has a special purpose to their work: remembering Lois’ sister, Gloria Coleman, who passed away eight years ago at age 48.

“We’re kind of doing it for her – she lived here all her life; but we also want to recognize all the others that have gone, maybe even with a sign,” Lois says.

“It’s something that makes it nice. We could plant some flowers, maybe have a park sign…. Anyone who wants to help, maybe take a turn mowing, that’d be great.”