Coal Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee Funding Application Information Package Draft- part 2

Activities.

After three years of meeting as an informal “ad-hoc” group, the Perseverance Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee was appointed by the council of the Village of Cumberland September 24, 2007. The first meeting was held January 23, 2008. The group meets formally once a month, and informally on site most Sundays.

One of the first tasks of the Committee was to forward a request to Council to change the name of the Park and the Committee. The change was accepted by Council resolution April 8, 2008.

PARK PROJECTION STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. KEY ITEMS (from the Closing Summation):

· That visible boundaries be established which define the Park in its entirety.

- Planer Judy Walker to check for date in Village office. Retired Engineer Robert (Rocky) Williams had located the boundaries at one time.

· That enforceable regulations/bylaws be established for the Park. These regulations/bylaws should allow for only safe, constructive and responsible use of the park land. This is key to further development and enjoyment of the Park.

- Temporary signs indicating foot and bicycle traffic only on the Wellington colliery railway grade and inside the red gate at Chinatown were installed in August. More permanent signs explaining park rules and regulations will follow on completion of the Master Greenways and Parks Plan.

· That the process of determining a working budget for the Park begin, so that concrete steps can be taken towards establishing key aspects of this study. This is a necessary step towards establishing a timeline for development, improvement and maintenance of the space. This will also allow for more in depth planning to begin for some of the more costly development areas of the Park such as the Chinese recreation grounds, signage and lookouts, and the acquisition of the Saito House.

· That the name of the Park be changed from Perseverance Creek Historic Park to one that more accurately reflects the historic truths of the area included within the Park boundaries. Our suggestion for such a name is “Coal Creek Historic Park”. This is a name recognized, used and accepted by the Chinese, Japanese and the vast majority of Cumberland residents.
- Done by resolution of Cumberland Village Council April 8, 2008. The Committee decided to leave the plaque with the previous name on the plinth at the Jumbo’s cabin site, explaining the change by way of storyboard or other signage. At the request of the No.1 former residents and descendants, there will also be recognition at the No. 1 town site of the Japanese name Ura No Kawa .


Goals (overall context of what to try to achieve)

Short term (0-1 year)
· Name decided - Done
· Boundaries marked -In progress
· Parks rules and regulations bylaw Parks Plan; temp signs up August 2008
· Regulations posted - “ “
· Vehicles blocked - “ “
· Saito house resolved -`See Corresp. 2006. Included in
Parks Plan budget
· Community input: meeting - Open House, Town hall meeting(adop-
tion of proposal); public meeting( name change)
· Draft map: environmental/historical -in progress
· Horse/fence/buildings removed from orchard - Horses and equipment removed


Medium term (1-5 years)
· Entrance to Chinatown -garden area planted, signage installed in garden and at Jumbo's Cabin
· Entrance to No. 1 Japanese Town- signage, EDS heritage sign installed;
-plans being drafted for bridge/Torii gate at entrance with Cumberland Rotary Club.
· Shelter with bulletin board - plans drawn up, fundraising underway
· trail plan including restoration plan

Long term (5 years plus)

Objectives (concrete statement of what project is trying to achieve)
· Mark boundaries -process started with Rocky Williams; survey map obtained
· Stop motorized vehicles -signs posted at red gate, near Saito house and at trailheadss
· Protect wetlands
· Protect rail bed trail
· Protect species
· Provide parking
· Post regulations - included in Greenways and Parks Plan
· Provide signage
· Provide historical storyboards - information being gathered
· Provide trails
· Provide viewing areas (lookouts)
· Provide bulletin boards
· Provide shelters, picnic tables, garbage cans, benches -picnic shelter plans ready
· Provide public washrooms
· Set up donation program- credit union account opened for Chinatown projects
· Develop gardens: community, Japanese, Chinese - Chinatown started, bulbs planted; OAP involved
· Restore orchard - 51 trees marked; request for inclusion on Cumberland heritage tree inventory
· Protection/conservation of Saito house resolved

3. PARTIAL LIST OF 2006 PARK PROJECTION STUDY DETAILS (from the body of the report)- G. Doherty, February 2008

1. Eastern portion of park (Chinatown)

a. Entrance:
- landscape, beds, plantings and site cleanup
- signage and storyboards near parking with historical information about Cumberland and surrounding area, including the mines
- small shelter at the Hai Gai/ rail bed intersection where miners waited for the train (small commemorative area-Ken Lowe)

b. Central Chinatown
- disturb as little as possible
- reflect culture of Chinese people
- route traffic along Hai Gai and Shan Gai with road signage of Asian design
- restful space at Kuan Lung Mew temple site with lookout, viewing area platform see Page 17 “Lookout 2” for details
- signage including historic location of buildings; plaques with family names, perhaps one for each street
- storyboard including Asian style Community Bulletin board (historically existed here)
- secondary trails with signage

c. Northern End
- encourage community use ( e.g. community garden)
- pumpkin carving? Jack o’ lantern festival
- picnic tables, garbage cans restrooms, informative storyboards between this area ands southern end

d. Southern End (former Rod and Gun)
- mostly open with a ring of shade trees
- gatherings, outdoor recreation, cultural events
- small yet comfortable roofed area for gatherings in poor weather
- signs designating area use plus cultural and historical uses(similar)


2.Western Portion of Park. ( No. 1 Japanese Town)

a. Entrance
- main entrance atmosphere welcoming, attractive, reflecting culture of people who once lived here
- signage
- map of entire park

b. Taka Yama (Coal slag heap)
- as natural as possible
- landscape features and structures in Japanese style
- footpath from rail grade around back of slagheap to western viewing platform. Information board, staircase on western side
See page 17 “Lookout 3” for details

c. Orchard Area (100 Fruit Trees - landmarks of houses)
- orchard care and rejuvenation
- permanent signage about original buildings
- plaque of family names
- feature area for traditional Japanese garden. See page 22 “Traditional Japanese garden” for details
- trails from lane along historic street routes (as can be determined) to Saito House and to western corner of property where school was located
- signage indicating that some trails might be seasonal

d. Saito House
-acquire and retain for park use
- See page 21 “Special Use Areas” for details
- correspondence on file between Village of Cumberland and current occupants of the property

3. Wetlands and Woodlands (about 75% of park area)

- leave as natural and undisturbed as possible, to protect all species
- bullfrog spread control
- carefully routed trails and lookouts for foot use only
- viewing platform along rail bed See page 17 “Lookout 1” for details
- pedestrian bridge across low spot
- additional trails from rail bed to other areas of park
- 4 feet each side of rail bed selectively pruned and groomed to Souther driveway for feel of Asian stroll garden

4.Signage and Storyboard Detail
-See pages 15-25 and Map A in the appendix

5.Other Items (see page 25 of report):
- handling of donations
- areas of significance outside park boundaries such as Lowe garden, pig-roasting ovens