I tried looking for a picture of the gates on Ypres and Hall that mark the entrance to Memorial Park. The only one I could locate, was the photo above from 2001.
Since that time the gates have been restored and some plaques added to it.
It now looks like this:
From The Border Cities Star, July 3, 1925, here’s some background on the park and the gates…
Memorial park, Windsor’s newest public recreation spot, is to be known in the future as Kennedy Park, in honor (sic) of the late Hon. W.C. Kennedy, minister of railways and canals in the King government several years ago, and South Essex parliamentary representative.
NAMES CHANGED
This change was effected at a meeting or the Windsor Parks Commission Friday night. Church Street playground was renamed Mitchell Park, in honor (sic) of Mayor F.J. Mitchell; and Clay playground was specifically changed to Henry Clay Park, to perpetuate the memory of the late Henry Clay, one time mayor and lately clerk of the supreme and county courts.
Garwood Park, on Logan Avenue is to be known henceforth as Alexandria Park.
Considerable discussion took place over the proposal to rename Memorial Park, but Col. E.S. Wigle, and William W. Lanspeary, chairman of the board, who favored (sic) the retnetion of the name “Memorial” as voicing public sentiment in honor (sic) overseas veterans, were outvoted by the rest of the commission. A small plot of ground adjoining St. Alphonsus Cemetery and donated to the city by Mrs. Kennedy, was named Kennedy Court.
OPPOSED HONOR
John Muxlow, one of the commissioners, urged the changing of the Church Street recreation centre to Mitchell Park, declaring that the present mayor, who resides nearby, is the first native of the city to be elected chief magistrate, Mayor Mitchell opposed the suggestion.
Plans were approved for the construction of a storage warehouse on McDougall street at a cost of $6,500. This building which will be fireproof, will be used to house all of the parks equipment, at the present time scattered about the city. The land upon which the structure will be located is owned by the city of Windsor, and the use of it was loaned to the commission by the city council. It lies north of Erie Street.
SKETCH APPROVED
A sketch of the proposed ornamental entrance to Kennedy Park, as submitted by Cameron & Ralston, architects, was also approved. The sum of $2,000 was donated for the construction of this gateway by the Essex Land Company, which sold the 32-acre park to the city last year.
William Macklem, who owns the refreshment concession at Wigle Park, appeared before the commission and explained he was losing money on the concession this year. This was due,he said, because of the smaller crowds of sport fans attending baseball fixtures. The crowds were more interested in senior baseball contests staged at Stodgell Park, Walkerville, he said.
Mr. Macklem asked consideration on the subject.
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Yes- I remember the sandbox near the swings. I remember the merry go round as well and the teeter totters (sp?) and how scary it was to be stuck at the top! The washroom is still there and is open at certain times as far as I remember. They moved the hill that was at the back of the park to another location nearby too. I lived on Hall until about '98 and moved a few streets away and stayed there until moving to South Windsor in '06 so I'm still very familiar with the area. My Mom moved from her house on Kildare this past summer (she grew up on Vimy- east of Kildare). So needless to say, I've spent most of my 36 yrs in and around that neighbourhood.
They paved a path along the back of the park about 15 yrs ago (or so). Before that, it was a dirt road that dead ended half way around the back by a dirt hill. I remember in high school going back there for "bush parties" and doing an all-out sprint every time the cops came! I agree about the naturalization- a politically correct way to say, "we don't want to spend money paying people to take care of half of the park. I liked it so much better when the entire park was maintained and you could see from one end to the other.
I lived in the area from 1965 -70. I remember the park well, Easter egg hunts in the spring, that pool, the swings a hugh ( at the time ) slide, the merri-go-round of death! lol Does ANYONE remember the old fallen tree that looked like an octopus? The ice rink in the winter, and yes, Memorial road went all the way through, until they closed part of it and diverted it so they could build baseball diamonds!
I was wondering if someone else would mention that old fallen tree. That was our favourite play spot. It was polished to a glossy lustre from constant kid-climbing. Personally I like the naturalized area and think we need more of them here in the cancer capital of Canada to offset the air pollution and preserve our natural heritage.
When i was a little girl in the late 1950s there were bushes on the Ypres side of those gates
What most people don't know is all the east/west streets south of Tecumseh are named after WW1 battles and are signified by poppies on the street signs.