Mitton Village will have a bit of an artistic flair added to it this summer.
The City of Sarnia has launched the Mitton Village Parkette Project, in partnership with Diversity Ed. Safer Spaces Canada, and the Mitton Village Community Development Advisory Committee.
The project aims to create a "safe and vibrant" gathering space. Eight decorated/ painted picnic tables will be set up in the municipal parking lot, located at 135 Mitton St., to transform a portion of the space into a parkette.
The project is expected to be completed by June 30. Shortly after, the fixtures will be installed and ready for public use.
Director of Economic Development Kelly Provost said the space will be both "functional and beautiful".
"In addition to the picnic tables, we're also considering having some landscaping and other elements to really just help transform that space and make it feel like a designated area rather than just a parking lot," she said.
Those interested in designing and painting one of the picnic tables are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest. An independent jury made up of artists, creators, and industry professionals will help choose eight successful applicants.
"Submissions are open until April 3 for anyone to submit their Expression of Interest as well as a proposed concept design," said Provost. "Then based on the full submissions that we receive, we'll narrow that to the final eight."
Chosen artists will each receive $250 for material costs and an additional $1,200 that can be directed to a local registered charity or incorporated not-for-profit of their choice.
The city launched this project after it was approved for a $30,000 non-repayable grant by the federal government's Canada Healthy Community Initiative. The initiative supports projects that ultimately help connect people with one another and improve health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We've realized that residents have kind of been forced to find creative ways to safely connect and gather in the community and a lot of that was occurring outdoors, so the project was really proposed as a way to create a space specific for Mitton Village residents and the broader community to get out and engage in a safe and inclusive way."
Provost said the Mitton Village Parkette is meant to act as a "snapshot" of the city's long-term plans for transforming the parking lot space.
"It is part of a design process that's being undertaken by the city's community improvement plan that's meant to advance the vision for the full transformation into the future including fixed seating, landscaping, resurfacing, and other features that are meant to activate this for a longer-term."
Those interested in submitting an Expression of Interest can contact the city’s economic development department at economicdevelopment@sarnia.ca or 519-332-0330.
