By Mark Squibb/September 16, 2021
Bay Bulls could use another playground, say members of the outgoing council.
Deputy Mayor Wendy O’ Driscoll brought the item forward towards the close of the September 13 meeting as a piece of new business.
“Sheldon Drive and the Dunne Drive area has a very high concentration of children,” said O’Driscoll, who noted the town has undergone a lot of community-minded projects in recent years, including the new community pavilion outside town hall constructed largely with Come Home Year funds. “And so, we are inquiring about getting some land up there to build a playground… There’s an enormous number of children up there, and we definitely need a playground there.”
Mayor Harold Mullowney concurred, and said he felt government ought to pitch in more for such projects in rural areas like Bay Bulls.
“As I keep telling various levels of government, this is one of the fastest growing areas of the province, and we need all sorts of resources,” said Mullowney. “Because the number of kindergarten students each years keeps growing. The daycare that we have is overflowing… We have been here working diligently for so many years, and have faced so many challenges, and have so many young people. And it’s like, maybe we’re so close to the city that we don’t get noticed. But I think finally we are getting noticed, because you look at the last few years, and we have been successful in receiving funds for quite a number of initiatives. And I keep telling people in all levels of government, that this is a fast-growing area, so it’s time to step up.”
Mullowney said that for many folks, a town like Bay Bulls is a sweet spot— outside the city, but not so far away you can’t make a day trip there.
O’Driscoll made the motion that staff research land acquisition for development of a playground, which Joan Luby seconded.
The motion carried unanimously.
