| Feb 24, 2011


A few months ago, enthused by some improvements to the sidewalks and roadways in the middle of the village, Arden resident Dorothy Proctor issued a challenge to her fellow Ardenites to come together and try to revitalize the village.

That led to a public meeting in November, which drew over 70 people to share ideas and plans for the future.

A follow-up meeting last week, on Thursday, February 17, drew 60 people according to Adrian O’Connell, one of the organizers.

“The turnout for the second meeting is encouraging,” O’Connell said, “and there is a bit of a concern that these meetings not become talking shops or that people go off and start doing things that overlap with things that others are doing, or that the township should be doing.”

To counter that possibility, a set of small committees has been formed to move different initiatives forward. The committees include: maps and signage (chaired by Art Dunham); clean up and property standards (Jim Duthie); coffee shop/store (Janina Fisher); and public works (Glen Matson).

A couple of projects that are aimed at enhancing the tourism potential of Arden were discussed at the meeting, including constructing a covered walking bridge and the possibility of development of a 400 + acre site off the Arden Pit Road as a recreational area. The property, which is known as the Arden Canyon, was purchased by Kennebec Township years ago, and Glen Matson has kept the idea of doing something with it ever since he was the Reeve of Kennebec. Pictures of the property were shown to those attending the meeting. It includes a picturesque gorge, hence the moniker, Arden Canyon.

Expansion of the role of the Arden and the Arts concept is also being looked at.

Terry Kennedy, the chairperson of the Kennebec Lake Association, is another of the members of what he calls “the start up group”.

“Each of the committees has picked something they will be trying to accomplish right away, to keep up the momentum,” Kennedy said.

A delegation will be going to a meeting of Central Frontenac Council next month to keep council apprised of what is being planned in the short and medium term.

The two Kenebec ward councilors, Jeff Matson and Tom Dewey, attended the meeting, as did Mayor Janet Gutowski.

Another public meeting will likely be called in June, at which time Kennedy said it might be time to form a formal steering committee for what has this far been an informal process. 

 

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