City Page - April 15, 2010

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BARRIE OPENS GATE ONCOMMUNITY GARDENING

If you have been paying close attention, you would have noticedthat Barrie has been busy plotting. For a community garden, thatis! And you can join us in the fun.

Barrie opened the gates to its first Community Garden, locatedalong Coulter Street in the east end of Sunnidale Park (behindBayfield Mall). It is a fenced area containing 35 prepared plots of astandard size of 1.5 x 4.5 metres.

“We were approached by a resident who was interested in usinga section of City land to start a Community Garden. As a result ofthis community interest, a Staff Report was prepared for Council’sconsideration,” says Barrie’s Landscape Architectural TechnologistWendy Loevenmark.

In June 2009, Council approved the Coulter Street Garden as itsfirst Community Garden. It will be operated as a pilot project bythe Parks Planning and Development Section of Barrie EngineeringDepartment and evaluated at the end of the gardening season.

“The project will allow the City to evaluate the level of interest incommunity gardens before investing more time and money in theexisting garden or expanding the program,” says Loevenmark.

The City plans to interview the gardeners and provide their feedbackand recommendations at a Public Information Centre to be heldthis fall. This information session will also help City staff determinepublic interest and receive feedback on other locations for othercommunity gardens. Staff will then report back to Council in late2010 with recommendations regarding expanding the CommunityGarden Program.

As for the Coulter Street garden, the City rents the Garden plots for$20 plus GST ($21 total) for the season that runs from early springto October 31st. Temporary parking is being developed next to thegarden, where people currently access the dog park.

So far, the garden has been well received. “Residents were able toapply for garden plots starting in January 4, 2010. The garden plotswere all rented by the beginning of March,” says Loevenmark.

But Loevenmark asks that those still interested in communitygardening apply for the waiting list or write the City a letterexplaining their interest. “If there is enough interest, we may beable to open up new plots. At the very least, the City needs to knowthe level of community interest in community gardens, and goingon the waiting list will provide that information.”

Although the gardening has already begun, the official opening ofBarrie’s first community garden is on Earth Day, April 22, 2010.

To download forms and formore information, go towww.barrie.ca andenter “community garden” in the search field (upper right corner).

Selling Your House WiselyMonday April 19 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Barrie Public Library, Angus Ross RoomLearn strategies for selling your house wisely in a hot real estate

market. Why does one house sell in days and other houseslanguish on the market for months? Make your home moresaleable. Presented by a home staging, real estate agent and

mortgage broker. Free drop-in session.

Composter &Rain Barrel SaleThe City of Barrie is holding a BackyardComposter and Rain Barrel Truckload Sale,one day only!

Saturday, May 1, 2010, 9am to 3pm, firstcome, first served

City of Barrie Residents only, whilequantities last, rain or shine, $15.00 taxincluded for The Earth Machine Composterand $45 tax included for Systern Rain Barrel.Home Depot Parking Lot, 10 Barrie View Drive andCanadian Tire Parking Lot, Bayfield Mall

EmergencyEmergencyDetour RoutesDetour RoutesThe City of Barrie has recently established six

Emergency Detour Routes (EDR) for Highway 400

through the City.These EDRs will provide guidance

to motorists of the proper and preferred routing

should a section of Highway 400 be closed to traffic.

EDRs are used for short term closures and are not

intended for long-term closures such as those due

to construction.

PermissiveTruck RouteThe City of Barrie has establisheda Permissive Truck Route systemin a manner that provides efficientnorth, south, east and west truckmovements across the City tominimize the inter ference ofheavy trucks on streets that arenot appropriate for their use, i.e.residential areas; thereby, improvingthe quality of life for the residents.The designated roadways ofPermissive Truck Route system aresigned by way of directional arrowsand heavy truck are prohibited fromall other roadways with exceptionwhen delivering or picking up cargofrom a scheduled destination.

Roads and Parks Operations will be carrying out the annual Spring Street Sweeping Programto clean all city streets of sand deposited during winter control and other debris.Sweeping usually starts in mid-April and is expected to be completed by mid-May, weatherpermitting. Arterial roads will be swept first followed by residential streets.Sweeping in residential areas will commence in the northeast and southeast corners of thecity working towards the landfill site on Ferndale Drive North. Sand that is swept from roadsis disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner at the landfill site where it is usedfor covering waste.To help us provide the best service possible, please do not push sand into piles on the road asthe sweeper cannot pick them up. When possible, please minimize residential street parkingduring this process to ensure best results. If this should happen, City staff will note suchobstructions and will return at a later time.If you should have any questions regarding this year’s spring streetsweeping program please contact the City’s OperationsDepartment, Roads and Parks Operations Branch,at 705-739-4255.