The Town of Minto received a “five bloom” rating and a special mention for Palmerston Lions Heritage Park during the Communities in Bloom 2013 National Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Ottawa-Gatineau on Oct. 25 and 26.
The town is also the winner of the Butchart Gardens Land Reclamation Award.
As a past national five-bloom community, Minto participated in the Circle of Excellence Evaluated category. Minto placed first in the 8,001 to 10,000 population category at the national CIB level in 2009.
Ongoing participation allows Minto to continue promoting the town as a national Communities in Bloom winner. To continue participation, municipalities must be evaluated every three years.
Following their evaluation, volunteer judges Odette Sabourin-Dumais and Gérald Lajeunesse wrote: “The Town of Minto is a small, agriculturally-based township in Ontario that includes three vibrant communities within its boundaries: Harriston, Palmerston and Clifford. From its beginning as a location for a new playground, the Palmerston Lions Heritage Park has grown to encompass all 19 acres of the former CN Rail lands in the heart of downtown Palmerston.
“The park now includes a formal front entrance with fountain, a splash pad and swimming pool, the Sports pad, a large shelter, a one mile of lighted brick pathway that is nearing completion, the wonderfully-preserved pedestrian bridge that is both iconic and heritage and a natural amphitheatre.
“This park will long serve as the event space of the community thanks to the vision of its leaders and generous support of the community.”
A complete list of results can be found on the Communities in Bloom website at www.communitiesinbloom.ca (in Symposium & Awards).
“Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society,” CIB officials state.
Mandy Jones, Minto’s interim business and economic development coordinator, recognized the contribution of various segments of the community to the five bloom effort.
“Great job to all who had a hand in the Communities in Bloom program,” she stated.
