Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 23/05) - Parents and educators want to turn the "gravel wasteland" in front of Mildred Hall school into a public park, complete with bushes, grass and park benches in an effort to green-up the city's downtown core.

Yasemin Heyck, principal of Mildred Hall school, says the old red "rocket" play equipment will stay, but the schoolyard will undergo major changes in the next couple years.

The Mildred Hall Community Park Project is holding a public workshop at the school this Saturday, from 1-5 p.m., to seek input on the park's design.

Yasemin Heyck, principal of Mildred Hall, would like to see work on the park begin next spring. The former student of the school said the schoolyard has been devoid of greenery for as long as she can remember.

"It's a bit barren and desolate right now," said Heyck, noting that when the wind picks up, "dirt cyclones" can been seen blowing across the yard.

"We really would like to make the outside as beautiful as the inside is right now, and also increase the amount of greenspace available downtown because it's really quite limited."

A major $9 million renovation of the 40-year-old school is nearly complete. Heyck said she expects building the park will cost more than $300,000. Yk Education District No.1 has already contributed $100,000.

Heyck said park proponents will be reaching out to the community for financial support plus some muscle to do the actual work of turning sod and planting trees.

"This winter will be the big fundraising drive. The kids will be involved somewhat, but obviously you can't have bake sales to raise that kind of money."

New playground equipment

Besides planting sod and indigenous fauna like cranberry shrubs and raspberry bushes, the school wants to replace much of the playground equipment - some of it as old as the school. Heyck said the basketball courts out front, which are quite popular, will remain, but could be moved.

There are also plans to reclaim land behind the school, which plan designer Karen LeGresley-Hamre said is overrun by partiers who have littered the rocks with smashed bottles.

"In terms of cultural activities, (the school) has got wall tents, teepees, and smokehouses that they need a place for," said LeGresley-Hamre.

"(The back) has become a little bit of a no-man's land. There's a lot of broken glass and misuse in that area now."

One potential problem park proponents may have to face is how to deal with vandalism and other criminal activity that might be attracted by the added foliage on the site.

"Obviously good lighting is important," said Heyck. "But I think, being that it is fairly wide open, there's a lot of traffic that goes by here. The vandalism around the front isn't too bad actually."

She said even with added plants and trees, the plan is to keep the view of the park free from obstructions. Nonetheless, the RCMP have been invited to Saturday's meeting to offer their suggestions on how to keep the park safe.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said project organizers attempted to secure special grants funding earlier this year but were rejected because the city considers beautifying school grounds a territorial government responsibility. He said that doesn't mean the city won't help. Northern Strategy money and infrastructure funding announced by the federal government earlier this year could be spent on the park.

"Definitely, what they're working on is an exciting idea to re-green the centre," said Van Tighem.

"There's funding that's available with no real strings attached so maybe that's one of the projects that can fit into that."

Laurie Sarkadi, a parent and member of the Mildred Hall Community Park Project, said she is looking forward to seeing the school ground return to its natural environment.

"We want a playground but also a quiet space where people can sit and reflect."