A $50,000 grant obtained by the municipality of Franklin has allowed for the creation of a bucolic rest stop and picnic area on the grounds surrounding the town hall and the municipal house on Route 202.
The new green space was landscaped over the summer, with the addition of picnic tables and other facilities that will allow cyclists and visitors to enjoy a break before continuing their journeys or while using the EV charging station nearby. The funds for the park were provided by the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs following a call for projects as part of the Aide financière pour des projets locaux de vitalisation program.
According to Franklin’s mayor, Douglas Brooks, green spaces such as this have been in high demand since the start of the pandemic and were in short supply in Franklin-Centre. The creation of a municipal park therefore meets a specific need within the local population, but it also provides for tourists. “The pandemic has not been all bad as outdoor activities have become more popular, and the municipality of Franklin wants to encourage this new habit by developing green spaces for its citizens and visitors,” says Brooks.
At the moment, the park has yet to be officially inaugurated. Brooks is now asking for the participation of citizens in choosing an appropriate name for the new space. Citizens may send their ideas directly to the municipality by email: info@municipalitedefranklin.ca. (SR)