Killaloe Pathways Park was ignited by a conversation between the Township of Killaloe Hagarty Richards and members of Friends of the Library regarding the potential development of a reading trail in Killaloe. The former Hoch Farm is the chosen location.
The next step was to find funding. The federal government’s Healthy Communities Initiative seemed like a good fit but it became clear that we needed a vision beyond the reading trail, so other community organizations were invited to brainstorm about what might be possible. From here, community support grew and more people and ideas were brought and incorporated.
After many brainstorming sessions, the working group came up with a plan and wrote a funding proposal. The need for a multipurpose community green space that supports the mental and physical health of Killaloe and area residents led to the current proposal.
The working group is committed to developing the park following these principles:
- Respect for the natural environment and ecology;
- Collaborative processes of meaningful engagement with Algonquin peoples and local business, institutional, and community interests;
- Gratitude and acknowledgement of unceded ancestral territory of Algonquin peoples;
- Respect and acknowledgement for the Hoch family homestead;
- Respect and acknowledgement for past volunteers and community organizations.
Current Project Partners
Funder: Healthy Communities Initiative Government of Canada
Community Resource Centre, Bil Smith and Kim Groskleg
Friends of Killaloe Library, Cathy Lyons and Phil Godon
Killaloe Business Association, Dan Harrington
Killaloe Food Bank, Dan Harrington
Killaloe Heritage and Ecology Society, Lynne Postill
Killaloe and District Public Library, Nicole Zummach
Killaloe Public School, Anne George
Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards Township, Chris Neff
Kokomis Roberta Della Picca, Bonnechere Algonquin
Ottawa Valley Community Arts, Andy Trull and Anya Gansterer
St. Andrews’ Public School, T.J. O’Grady and Stephanie Pinkerton