Windsor Park Park is underway! That’s right, the work of creating a new park for Windsor Park has begun. Okay, let me back up a bit.

Two years ago, left over lands between 50^th Avenue and 53^rd Avenue behind the properties along the east side of 4^thStreet was redesignated as park space. This is all of the sloped area and odd shaped chunks of land that will never be developed. That 9 acres of forgotten leftover land is what we are calling Windsor Park Park (okay, I am calling it that).

About 20 people from Windsor Park, under the leadership of Diana Zinter, got together for a couple of weekends to talk about what the space could be, what people would like to see in the park and how we can go about getting it. This will be different from other parks that have been developed in the City. For the most part, we are going to be doing it ourselves. We are going to plan and create it ourselves. The Parks Department will help us where they can, but it will be Windsor Park’s project.

The first step in re-claiming the area for the community is going to be the Windsor Park Park Cleanup on April 28^th and 29^th. For those two days, we are going to go into the area and start cleaning up the garbage and junk that has accumulated in the space over the years. On April 28^th, Windsor Park Park will become part of Windsor Park. And we will need your help!

Two of your neighbours are organizing the cleanup which will be from 12:30 until 4:00 PM each day. Breffney and Melanie have been getting all of the things that we will need for a great day of cleanup (and a bit of exploration and idea sharing).  While they will have most everything we will need, I would encourage you to wear appropriate footwear (boots) and bring work gloves!

For more information you can contact Breffney and Melanie at: windsorparkpark@yahoo.ca

You can also join the Facebook group for the Windsor Park Park cleanup here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/347262905315569/

However, these things that hold me back never outweigh the joy of spending time with family: spending time with my nieces and nephews, going on an outing with them, having those good talks with my parents, sisters, or older nieces and nephews. I always feel energized by these visits because there are no pretenses with my family. I can be myself, and they don’t have the expectation that I be something that I’m not. If I put on any heirs, they are quick to see it and bring me back to reality. Even though there are things that can hold me back from going, it is well worth the trip.

The reason I share this is that as Christmas approaches, I can miss this truth. Planning where I am going, or what I am bringing to the dinner, or what presents I need to get, all of these can distract me from what is most important: spending time with loved ones. I’m not saying that dinners and presents are not important, but they can, if we lose focus, keep us from each other which is what Christmas is all about.

I pray that Christmas may be a time of good fellowship: laughter, joy, and peace. As we prepare for this during our Advent season, may we keep focus on our goal.