Park revival efforts pay off.

Establishing a park on the shores of Thunder Bay in the 1920s was a dream come true for one long-time resident of the city. However, over the last 10 years the 270-acre site had fallen into disrepair. Structures were deteriorating and the beach had to be closed due to high E-coli counts. Now Chippewa Park is undergoing major reconstruction with the hopes of making the area the popular destination haven it once was.

Iain Angus, one of the drivers and dreamers behind the revitalization process, says the idea started with a master plan, which was developed for the city in 2001. This study indicated that if renovations were carried out, as suggested in the plan, then the park would experience a three-fold attendance increase within its first year. The study also showed that the economic impact of the park is $158 to $160 per person per day.

"We were heartsick with the kind of deterioration that we saw," Angus, secretary for Friends of Chippewa and chair of Bringing Chippewa Park's Past into the Future Committee, says.

Word was out that further cuts to municipalities were forthcoming. With the condition of the park declining, he and a few residents decided to start an organization, Friends of Chippewa, to revitalize the area. Each of the, board of directors are somehow counected to the park through past relationships.

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In fact one couple met out there.

"His grandmother was the chief cook in the dining room for years. His brother was the superintendent," Angus remembers.

Angus also has his own nostalgic memories.

"I grew up there," Angus says. "My parents ran the tourist camp from 1946 to 1970:"

It has been nearly 82 years since its opening, and Angus wants to bring the park back from the past into the future.

"This is why we are out there doing this. That place is part of us."

At a Thunder Bay council meeting in 2001, members of the organization pled their case, which resulted in no cuts to the park. In fact, the city contributed over $500,000 to the cause.

"We have a council that is concerned about pro-quality life issues," Angus says.

The moon and stars were aligned, since funding in the form of $1.4 million from Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, $500,000 from FedNor, $500,000 from Heritage Canada and $300,000 from private sectors, along with other government agencies fell in to place, Angus says.

Equipped with solid funding, the organization decided to begin physical work on the property 10 months ago and have made great strides since. Already a new log structure has been installed in place of the A-frame-office. The recreational vehicle park was outdated and is now being revamped with electrical, water, telephone and Internet services.

"We want to make the area user friendly," Angus says.

Other existing concrete buildings were clad with partial log siding to add continuity to the park. The pavilion, with the latest in security systems, has been gentrified and the once busy dance hall has been revamped for summer entertainment.

"We had dances and we had a place where square dancers right across northwestern Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota, Wisconsin would come every year for a week-long jamborees," Angus recalls.

The hall, still in its original location, will not only host an array of entertainment, but the room is equipped to facilitate conferences with Internet access, available. A number of events have already been booked for the upcoming season, Angus says.

Other improvements include a new concession area outfitted with an indoor/outdoor cafe, as well an interpretive centre, which will be constructed in the centre hall of the pavilion. It will display the history of the park, Fort William First Nation and the geography of the neighbours of Lake Superior.

"People will understand part of the history of the park."

A large bandstand where Sunday musicians played throughout the summer was torn down in 1952. However, a new bandstand has been built in a new location and will be in full use on the official opening July-15 when the park marks its 82nd anniversary. In the 1920s, people from areas like Dakota, Milwaukee and Duluth fled to the park by the thousands. Today, Angus is hoping tourists from the region, as well as from across the border, will reacquaint themselves with their history.

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"We were that destination. We did provide that (family getaway) function," Angus says.

Angus is hoping by offering stay and play packages, the park may be able to attract more people to the park.

Even though government agencies and the private sector gave willingly to the project, a certain degree of know-how was required in organizing the reconstruction. For a number of years Angus was employed with the City of Thunder Bay as the park planner.

Hi technical expertise was an ideal fit for this project, he says.

He was an MPP for two years, and then MP for nine years, and has experience in all three levels of government.

Coupling his politic-al experience, Angus also runs his own consulting business, lain Angus and Associates. He works on feasibility studies and strategic planning with engineering and architectural firms.

Anxious for the opening, Angus believes people will receive the park with open arms.

"Once they see us, once they enjoy it, they will come back."