Community to benefit, thanks to day care owner’s efforts
SARAH KINGON
A FILTHY, illegal dumpsite in Woodstock Road, Parkside, has been transformed into a mini- astro turf benefitting the young children of the area.
After many phone calls to the Department of Solid Waste and the setting up of fundraisers, the owner of All Saints Daycare, Patricia Smith, adopted the land alongside her creche and created a sports area for children in the community. GO! & Express visited the site on Saturday, when All Saints Daycare was buzzing with families watching their young children graduate.
The day also marked the opening of the astro turf and a Christmas party for the children.
“Thanks to the Department of Solid Waste for giving us recycling bins and approving the land,” Smith said.
“They told us that they’re proud of what we’re doing and put the board up outside to tell our story.”
Former councillor for the area, Gary Green, who served until August this year and who was present at the ceremony, was pleased to see the radically positive transformation.
“This land was dense with bushes and second to Stoney Drift with all the rubbish dumped here illegally,” Green said.
“Patricia wanted to find something to replace the dumpsite and asked me to help her set up a business plan. It was all Pat’s initiative and I helped her liaise with the municipality and avail the land. All of her resources were used to transform it to what we see today,” Green added.
Smith is now the custodian of the land and will allow schools and sports teams to use it and encourage community participation.
She said the surface would be laid in February, closer to the beginning of the hockey season.
Sarah Kingon Journalism Portfolio 