Project Overview

From March 6-9, 2023, Odessa Public School's Grade 6/7 class participated in the Imagining My Sustainable Community (IMSC) program. Led by No. 9, this award-winning workshop empowered students to design sustainable communities, aligning with the ResiLienT Loyalist Township Climate Action Plan.

The 4-day workshop covered key sustainability pillars, culminating in student presentations on March 9. The Township selected two projects for implementation: a reading garden at Babcock Mill Park, and a rainbow crosswalk on Main Street.

On June 9, 2023, students visited Babcock Mill to discuss practical aspects of their projects. They envisioned the reading garden as a community hub and the rainbow crosswalk as a symbol of inclusivity and vibrancy.

The projects were formally presented at the Loyalist Township Council meeting on October 23, 2023, and approved for commencement in spring 2024. The rainbow crosswalk was included in the Potter Creighton South Main Infrastructure Upgrades project, with a public information session held on April 17, 2024.

On May 14, 2024, Council approved a budget transfer to supplement the reading garden project and rainbow crosswalk. Township staff drafted a design, with construction expected in 2024 as part of the Odessa West Infrastructure Upgrades project.

During the spring of 2024, Austin, a student from Ernestown Secondary School, under the guidance of teacher Nick O'Coin, dedicated his lunch hours to constructing a little library for the Babcock Mill Park Reading Garden.

The grand opening of the Babcock Mill Reading Garden was on October 23, 2024. This event celebrated the completion of the student-inspired project, inviting local partners, students, and community members to experience this new sustainable green space. The opening marked a significant milestone in the Township's commitment to sustainable community development and creating inclusive public spaces for all residents to enjoy. At the grand opening, Loyalist Township was proud to announce that the Babcock Mill Reading Garden had received a $10,000 Community Tree Grant through Tree Canada, thanks to CN's EcoConnexions From the Ground Up Program. Since 2012, this program had contributed to 252 projects and the planting of over 135,000 trees in Canada, aligning with our commitment to creating sustainable green spaces.

Thank you to all local partners, students, and community members for joining us at the grand opening of the Odessa PS student-inspired Babcock Mill Reading Garden. This new space is part of our commitment to sustainable community development and creating green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Check out the new space!

10 Bridge Street, Odessa ON