Time to Play Outside! – Petrolia Introduces Parks Passport

Petrolia – Petrolia is challenging families to get out and visit the local parks, where youth can complete a passport to get a prize! 

After two years of decreased recreation, the Community Services Department at the Town of Petrolia thought of a creative way to encourage physical activity and to promote drawing and writing skills in young people. The idea of the Parks Passport takes families on a journey to each park in Petrolia and asks questions about what they find, and sometimes asks them to get creative and submit a drawing of what they see.  The prize? Well, that’s a secret, but each youth participant that returns a passport will receive one! 

“Recreation is an important aspect for a healthy lifestyle, and for young people it is an excellent outlet for stored energy, and to teach the value of physical activity.  We looked at this Parks Passport as a creative way to encourage families to “stay outside until the streetlights come on” like we did when we were growing up, and to experience outdoor play in our many parks.” Said Dave Menzies, Director of Facilities and Community Services. He added that, “…the prizes are just for youth, but the benefits for a family completing the passport together are many.”

Petrolia is known for the abundance of green space available for recreation and for passive enjoyment.  Several community groups, most notably, Parents for Parks, have fundraised a complete replacement and development of a new playground in Greenwood Park that will come to fruition for families to enjoy this summer.  A volunteer committee has been working with staff on the re-development of the Bridgeview Trail System, and recently a wetlands area has been added to Bridgeview Park South.  Memorial benches are celebrated throughout the community and provide a nice place to stop and enjoy nature. Staff continue to work with community groups on the development of a splash pad, dog park and more, and as these details are finalized plans will be shared.  

The Parks Passport will be available for families to pick up at the Petrolia Municipal Office from Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and starting Saturday, May 21 at the Petrolia Farmers’ Market (396 Fletcher Street) every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. until noon.  Completed Passports are asked to be returned to the Petrolia Municipal Office, where it will be exchanged for a prize.

Valentina Street Construction Notice

Valentina Street Pre-Construction Presentation

2022 GREEN LEADER PROGRAM Recipient Announcement

In partnership with Waste Management of Canada and the Town of Petrolia

April 22, 2022

The Green Leader Program is part of Waste Management and the Town of Petrolia’s ongoing efforts to encourage the development of local community engagement and environmental solutions that build sustainable communities. The program is centered around a grant opportunity that is available to applicants living, working, and learning in the Town of Petrolia or benefitting Petrolia and its residents.

Waste Management and the Town of Petrolia are pleased with the number of businesses, organizations, and institutions that applied for this funding opportunity in the 2022 intake.  The program is designed to support initiatives that highlight the following sustainability goals:

Environmental Goal:

• The Green Leader program supports organizations and initiatives that preserve and/or enhance natural resources and/or help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Community Goal:

The Green Leader program focuses on local initiatives that support employees, enhance our environment, promote education, and improve the safety and livability of our communities.  

Each year, a committee of community members look over the applications and grade each application on the above criteria and rank the applications with assigned dollar value recommendations.  There is an available funding amount of $15,000 available for the projects. Each applicant may request up to $15,000 in program/project funding. This funding is a one-time, non-repayable, fully funded grant. Applications are due each year on March 30.  Waste Management and the Town of Petrolia would like to thank our volunteers for their assistance in the selection of this year’s recipients.

“Earth Day is the perfect day for this annual announcement as it brings community attention to the issues facing the earth and through this program, it is a nice opportunity to do our part.  Residents are encouraged to visit earthday.org to learn more about what they can do for our planet. We are very grateful for this partnership with Waste Management for the betterment of our community and for our earth.” Said, Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer Rick Charlebois. 

2022 Successful Projects:

Hillcrest Public School (School Council) – $5,000

Project Summary

Outdoor gardens and compost stations are elements planned as part of a larger multi-phase schoolyard beautification project that includes the addition of outdoor classroom spaces, new playground equipment and a walking path.  The vision for the current project is to create an applied learning environment that provides teachers and students with a hands-on learning opportunity for select scientific curriculum and to increase students’ food literacy (i.e., understanding the impact of food choices on one’s health, environment, and economy).

The funds requested will be used to build 5 garden boxes, create a composting station in the school yard, in addition to, the purchase of necessary tools to tend and maintain the gardens (e.g., watering cans, small spades, seeds, stakes for taller plants, etc.).  This will create a natural field-based learning opportunity for teachers and students for delivering several science curriculum topics, including “growth and changes in plants,” “energy in our lives,” “daily and seasonal changes,” and “soils in the environment.” In partnership with Hillcrest staff, School Council also plans to develop a food waste program as part of Hillcrest’s compost system and will utilize funds to also purchase compost bins for the school.  Working in partnership with the administrative and teaching staff, education will be delivered alongside the program to increase students’ food literacy.  More specifically, increase students’ awareness and understanding on how reducing their “food-print” (e.g., the amount of food they put in the landfill) helps the environment (e.g., reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes to the warming of the planet). 

The Rotary Club of Petrolia – $5,000

Project Summary

On property owned by the town, just south of their works yard on Centre Street, last year work was started to prepare some land for a community garden. This initial phase has been designed with 12 plots available to community members and groups to utilize on a seasonal basis to grow and harvest fresh vegetables.  Besides citizens that have applied for a plot, L.C.D.S. will have a plot this year to help support their clients.

The plan is to erect a shed for the gardeners to store some of their garden tools, provide a watering system as well as a compost facility for the site.  Soil preparation will be critical this spring to get things moving in the right direction so investing to topsoil and compost type materials is on the to do list. 

Petrolia Heritage Advisory Committee – Special North Street Cemetery Project – $2,500

Project Summary

Re-forestation has a big impact on enhancing this natural site, and will not only beautify the area, but it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and welcome native trees back to a previously cleared property.

This application is to assist with the re-forestation of the North Street Heritage Cemetery. This funding would permit the planting of native trees along the historic roadway at the site.

IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter – $2,500

Project Summary

The plan is to enhance the natural area in Bridgeview Park by adding a nature trail so that we can be a part of the preservation of the area and participate in tree planting and other projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  We will encourage the trail to be a learning opportunity for area schools with signage also.

We would like to develop or upgrade, and dedicate a trail to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, running from Bridgeview Park up through the woods to end at The Petrolia Discovery.

A sign would be placed at the beginning of the trail, and we would like to include smaller signs throughout the trail to describe some of the history of the area. A bench would be placed halfway through the trail, as well as boardwalks where necessary.

Previous Successful Applicants:

2021

The Petrolia Discovery Foundation Inc. – approved for $10,000

The Petrolia and Area Kiwanis Club – approved for $5000

2020

Parents For-Parks – approved for $15,000

St. Clair Conservation Authority – approved for $10,000

The Petrolia and Enniskillen Agricultural Society– approved for $5,000