Legacy project on lakeshore commemorates Canadian navy.
Parkdale-High Park Councillor Bill Saundercook, left, Commodore Jennifer Bennett, Mayor David Miller and Commander Matthew Davies, commanding officer, HMCS York, unveiled plans for a Canadian Navy-themed water park and playground at Sir Casimir Gzowski Park, Thursday, Sept. 2.
Staff photo/LISA RAINFORD
Perhaps the next generation of sailors will play on the new Canadian-themed water park and playground in Sir Casimir Gzowski Park on the lakeshore, mused Commodore and Commander of the Naval Reserve Jennifer Bennett at a ceremony to unveil landscape plans for the Navy Marine play structure. The ceremony attracted the likes of Mayor David Miller and Parkdale-High Park Councillor Bill Saundercook both of whom have family ties to Canada's navy. Miller's "Uncle Jim," with whom the young would-be mayor stayed with when he first came to Toronto, was a long-standing member of the navy as was Saundercook's late grandfather, who worked on a navy submarine during the Second World War. Saundercook was looking forward to "showing off" his new son-in-law in his navy whites during the launch event, but had gone off to Victoria B.C. with the navy reserve.The launch of the legacy project, commemorating the Canadian Naval Centennial, kicked off a host of events in the city within a five day period, said Miller, "to celebrate our very proud history of service in the navy."The water park is comprised of three main design elements: a ship equipped with slides, spray nozzles and a radar dish that dumps volumes of water to the deck below, a submarine complete with periscope children will be able to move through while being sprayed with cool water and a nautical feature wall designed to portray "a ship on waves," with portholes and spray jets. The water park will also include a variety of spray devices. The playground to the west will be comprised of a helicopter play structure with slides and a fully inclusive play apparatus. "It'll be a great place for all kids, perhaps for older kids like you and I," said Miller to Saundercook, which prompted laughter from those who had gathered for the unveiling on the waterfront. The commemorative pathway, which will run north to south and will separate the water park from the playground, pays tribute to the important role the navy has played for our country over the last century. "It will educate visitors about the innovations and milestones the navy has achieved," said Miller, "and will be a memorial to ships that have been lost."To add authenticity, the design proposes metal panels salvaged from actual ships retired from the Canadian navy, said the mayor."The real power of this project is to connect the navy with its citizens," said Bennett. "It will be a place to relax, a special place for a celebration or a family stroll along the lake."The water park and playground amalgamates all the features of the navy's services: ships, submarines, helicopters and the working environment, said Bennett.Bennett was drawn to the navy because, like Miller and Saundercook, there are family ties. "My father was in the navy," said the Hamilton native. "I was a reservist. I joined as a student for a summer job. It was a chance to do something different."The Canadian navy-themed park will be a legacy project of the Toronto's Naval Centennial Committee, which is fundraising to make it a reality.