Seamus Henry, president of the local club, petitioned the city Nov. 25 to link arms with the club and build a waterfront park near the ice road to Dettah.

The park is already on city books, with a budgeted cost of $334,000 for design and construction. The city had planned to build the park in 2004. At the Rotary Club's request it will split construction over 2003 and 2004, to make room for volunteers to work at the park, which needs to be complete in time for centennial celebrations in February 2005.

"It's just a recontouring of the waterfront so that you don't have those two picnic areas where people sort of drive in and party," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem. "It becomes a walk-in and a quieter area to watch the seagulls."

Narrowed down the list

Rotary pared down a list of six projects before deciding on the park. Other ideas included building social housing, creating a family resource centre and making a seniors facility.

"We thought the numbers of people that we could affect would be larger with a park," said Henry. "Everyone can use a park."

The city has yet to work out specific details on the park's design. City land manager Monte Christensen said preliminary suggestions include large grassy areas near the water, a canoe and kayak launch and a trail or boardwalk system through willow flats.

Rotary won't pour its own money into the park, nor will it help offset city construction costs. But Henry said Rotarians will donate time and labour to the park's design and construction to enhance the city's own plans.

"I would like to think you'd get a lot more bang for the buck with Rotarians being involved in it," he said.

In exchange, the park will feature a Rotary centennial plaque and be named after the club.

Rotarians made similar donations during the construction of the Frame Lake trail.

The idea has support from city councillors but has drawn opposition from some residents. They're concerned that the Rotary club has an unfair advantage in putting its name on the endeavour, and that the park will proceed without public consultation.

Van Tighem pledged the city will carry out full public consultations before the park is built.

And, he said, Rotary should have first dibs on naming the park.

"I don't see why people who go out and research something and make an offer to do something should be penalized because they were first," he said, adding that having Rotary on board brings a number of benefits.

"If they adopt it as a project it's got continuity to it because it's a healthy ongoing membership. You've got somebody spotting any things that are falling apart, people going in there on an annual basis interested in maintaining it. It's like if it was part of their own backyard."