Glenelm Neighbourhood Developments: 2010 - 2011

Elmwood/Roxy Park enhancements

·         Spring/Summer 2010: small group of residents present to City of Winnipeg Parks team and the EK-Transcona Community Committee, highlighting concerns re: neglect of park, safety, etc.  

·         Glenelm residents submit application to become co-sponsor of ‘Adopt-a-Park’.

·         August: $136,000 secured from EK-Transcona Community Committee to support enhancements including more lighting, upgraded pathways, picnic tables

·         September: City initiates long overdue maintenance of trees and shrubs

·         October: ‘Party in the Park’:  launch of Adopt-a-Park and community celebration; applied for and received $600 through City Per Capita Grant.

·         November: Application to Community Places for capital improvements to park; receive confirmation of $5,000 grant in Spring 2011.

·         January: Meeting with Councillor Steen to discuss issues/options for Roxy Park.

·         May: Councillor Steen confirms a splash pad will be constructed in the park and City confirms ‘Free Play’ program in the park from July 4^th-August 12^th.

Kelvin CC site sale and re-zoning 

·         September/October: During the Civic election campaign, the sale and re-zoning the Kelvin CC was identified as an issue and debated.

·         November-April:  Elmwood residents organized opposition to the re-zoning of the Kelvin site, defeating the bid of one developer to establish a commercial enterprise.

·         May: The Elmwood Community Resource Centre held a community meeting to develop a new vision for the old Kelvin site; Councillor Steen was present, along with representatives of Bill Blaikie’s office.  There was almost unanimous support among residents for the reconstruction of a building on the Kelvin site: a multi-purpose ‘community hub’ for all residents of Elmwood.

·         June: ECRC intends to share the proposed vision for the community hub with Councillor Steen and the community.  Next steps to be determined.

Initial efforts to develop the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association (GENA)

·         September-November: To facilitate access to funding sources, a small group of residents developed draft constitution for the ‘Glenelm Neighbourhood Association’ (GENA) and identified interim board members.

·         December – March: The group applied to and received $3500 from Assiniboine Credit Union to develop a neighbourhood plan (including but not limited to Roxy Park).

·         The group applied to the Community Places Program and was awarded $5000 to enhance a capital structure in Roxy Park.

·         A Community Builder account was opened at ACU under the name ‘Glenelm Neighbourhood Association’.[1]

·         In Winter/Spring 2011, momentum and communication among the group decreased and plans to move ahead with the neighbourhood planning project stalled.

·         Work to launch neighbourhood planning process and survey resumed in May 2011, with a first neighbourhood meeting planned for June 12^th.

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[1] The ‘Glenelm Neighbourhood Association’ remains an informal, unincorporated entity.  Expressions of interest in formalizing the Association are welcome. Time needs to be invested in advancing work on the Constitution/Bylaws, planning a general meeting and electing an Executive Committee and Board.