October/November/December, 2001

Did You Know?

THE BIG RAINSTORM
The rainfall recorded at Windsor Lake over a 15 hour period was 148.9 mm. Or just under 6 inches. This exceeded the Torbay Meteorological Station's theoretical 100 year record for the 2-hour, 6-hour, 12-hour and 24-hour durations. (See Paul Mackey's letter to the Telegram Oct 6th.)

But we must not imagine 100 years will pass before we can get another one! It could happen again next week! If a portion of the runoff had been held back by only 12 hours most of the flooding damage could probably have been avoided.. Long Pond itself rose about 2 metres and provided considerable floodwater storage.

PARKED CARS vs VEGETATION
Serious concerns have been expressed over the continuing loss of vegetation within and between paved parking lots for the various institutions in the Park. The Health Sciences Complex has just removed a significant section of natural vegetation including several dozen Spruce, Fir And Birch trees between Clinch Crescent and parking area 9E to provide extra metered parking for patients visiting the out-patient clinics. The Marine Institute is also proposing to extend their parking at the expense of wooded areas.

This insidious loss of screening vegetation in the ever expanding paved parking areas is of concern to many and is quite contrary to the letter and sprit of all the Pippy Park Master Plans past and present. The recent widespread "flash" flooding which was of short duration clearly demonstrated the other consequences of the hectares of paved parking being laid down in the Rennies River and other watersheds. It is very important for the City, the Pippy Park Commission and the Participating Parties in Pippy Park (i.e. government, University and the City) to conduct a careful study, and establish a firm policy to deal with both the aesthetic and environmental effects of parking lot expansion in the Park.

One of the arguments that has been made for extending these parking lots is that people are pressuring the administrations for more and more convenient parking all the time but nobody is fighting against it! There must be some way of limiting the areas devoted to asphalt, or at least breaking them up into smaller units. Such units could have provision for natural drainage into the ground or into temporary flood plains instead of directly into storm sewers that discharge straight into the Leary's Brook/Long Pond/Rennies River waterways.

CHRISTMAS IN PIPPY PARK - DEC 16th
The annual "Christmas in Pippy Park" is scheduled to take place on Sunday December 16th. At 3.30 p.m. at the Andrea Gillies Memorial Equestrian Centre (Rainbow Riders) on Mt. Scio Road. The enjoyable family event usually lasts about 1 hour and includes a live Nativity Scene by the Rainbow Riders, a Christmas Carol Singalong with instrumental accompaniment and a Tree Lighting Ceremony. The event is co-hosted by the Rainbow Riders and the Friends of Pippy Park. Donations to the food bank will be accepted. Everyone, please come and join us!

35 YEARS OF SERVICE
Carol Mcdonald was recognized for her 35 years of service to the Liberal Party at a special celebration held recently. Carol has just retired as a member of the Pippy Park Commission but she is continuing her service as secretary of the Pippy Park Promotions Committee as a volunteer.

MYRTLE BEACH WINNERS
The winners of the competition at the Pippy Park Mini-Golf Course on Nagles Place were Adam Bursey and Jennifer Colford. They went to The Masters National Championship Tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in September and had a great time. Considering the competition was all year-round players, they did very well! Derrick Dymond expects great things for next year!

DUCK RACE WINNERS
The winners of the big prizes at the 14th annual Rennies River Duck Race were 1st. Kathryn McKinlay with her duck called "Maggie" 2nd. Leia Atkinson with her duck called "Chloe Rocks" and the seller's prize winner was Grace Russell.

NAGLES HILL OR MT. SCIO?
Lara Maynard and Maura Mannion of the Pippy Park Heritage Committee tell me that Col. Nagle leased a section of land behind the present General Hospital site circa 1914. Col. Nagle was Commanding Officer in charge of the "drilling" of recruits for Newfoundland during World War I . The area was used by him as a rifle range or "butts". Nagles Hill was named after him. Mt. Scio Road was named after John Carter's Mt. Scio (Savory) Farm which was there long before the road was built and is located on the same escarpment but much further east. Nagles Hill Road was earlier called Upper Long Pond Road. It never did reach the "Nagles Hill"(where the VOWR radio transmitter tower now is) that was named after Col. Nagle!