ROTARY READY TO ‘ROCK THE BARGE’ WITH SEATING PROPOSAL

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — The hill in front of the Barge would make a great toboggan run right now.

But Rotarians hope to soon turn it in to seating for the popular summer concert venue at Gull Lake Rotary Park.

Dave Reid, vice chair of the Gravenhurst Rotary Club’s 85th anniversary special projects committee, Zoomed in to the town’s council meeting this afternoon with an “exciting” proposal for the much beloved and iconic water park music venue, which the club is pumped about.

So much so, he said, they’ve committed $50,000 to kick-start it.

It would see a series of granite seating steps replace the grass slope on the hill directly in front. Each could accommodate lawn chairs with room for concert-goers to sit on the front edge of each stone.

Reid showed a rough rendering by local artist Dave Dawson and some photos of similar amphitheatre seating in other cities, including Toronto’s High Park, as examples of the great potential it would provide for future concerts and other new multi-purpose public uses.

Rotarian Dave Reid, right, Zoomed in to Gravenhurst’s town council meeting this afternoon with Rotary’s 85th anniversary project proposal, which he said was well-received.

The idea is still in the initial planning stages, said Reid, who wanted to let council know of its wishes to continue helping improve the park on the east side of the main street on Gull Lake.

After the meeting he summed up council’s reaction, saying: “Overall they seemed positive.”

Mayor Paul Kelly and councillors received the presentation for information only and made no commitment or vote today, only offering to continue to work with the club on the idea. Council’s budget for 2022 has already been previously approved.

Reid said: “They recognize the impact our Rotary Club has had on our community and specifically Gull Lake Rotary Park — hence the name.

“I started by saying thank-you to the mayor and everyone else filling up squares in the Zoom meeting; because I felt each of them is there to make a better community and that my square was no different.

“Only I was privileged to represent the entire Rotary Club and those who have come before us in our 85 years.

“It is fun to be thinking about a big project again and one that no doubt will be a tremendous asset for our community.”

Reid said the Barge has so much potential for more use and Rotary’s project is just another enhancement to the park of which the club has in recent years been its champion. Notably with its expanded Rotary gazebo, pathway and rock garden.

The club has been an annual donor to the Barge shows for years and Rotarians regularly take a week’s turn each summer walking through the crowds with the collection boxes.

He said the club will soon be rolling out a fundraising project they hope the entire community can get behind with donations large and small.

“I love the history of our town and it is important to remember it and celebrate it. It will be so nice to see the Barge have a more prominent role in our town,” concluded Reid.

The rock would complement and be in keeping with existing stone work around the waterfront, upgraded by the town last year, and originally built by German POWs during the Second World at Camp 20 on Lake Muskoka.

The amphitheatre seating could be similar to others, like this one at High Park in Toronto, and two other cities below.

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