July, 2001

DID YOU KNOW?

TOTEM POLE
There is a Totem Pole located in Pippy Park that was presented to the Province in 1971 by the Province of British Columbia to commemorate the anniversary of their confederation as a province of Canada. The totem pole is located on the Confederation West Block grounds, overlooking Allandale Road.

STEVE HERDER'S SEAT
There is a single seat built at the Johnson Family Foundation "Little Rest"at Sliding Rock just upstream from the Elizabeth Avenue bridge over Rennies River. This seat was dedicated to the memory of Steve Herder by the Friends of Pippy Park. Steve Herder had been very active in the design and supervision of large sections of the Rennies River Trail and had specifically suggested a single seat be built there for those people who prefer to sit alone in that very special place. The area was once a favorite swimming hole and the smoothly curved rock fonnatiom must have led to the name. In June 1994, shortly after his death the seat was named "Steve's Seat" and a brass plaque on the seat records the dedication.

OLD NAMES FOR ROADS
Did you know the the old name for Groves Road was "Purcell's Ridge Road." Parts of Nagles Hill were known as "Upper Long Pond Road" and Ridge Road was once called "Hangman's (or Hagemann's) Path" after a surveyor named Hagemann?. Sunday Road was a road that was located behind the MacMorm Community Gwden on Mt. Scio Road. Higgin's Line used to start from Prince Phillip Drive across from the former Exon House (now the Petten Budding) via a bridge over Rennies River that is now demolished and run due North over the top of the main waterline from Windsor Lake.

QV/RRDF "LEGEND AWARD 2001"
The Fluvarium has been declared the 2001 recipient of the City of St. John's Tourist Awareness 'LEGEND" Award. The Fluvarium, located on Nagles Place, is dedicated to the interpretation of freshwater habitat and its importance in Newfoundland and Labrador. In the "basement" three large windows look out at the underwater life of Nagles Hill Brook.

Grand Concourse Projects in Pippy Park

The Cnand Concourse Authority is constructing two walks,within Pippy Park this season. The Long Pond to Oxen Pond Walk is nearing completion, and the MUN Visitor walk is moving into its second year of construction.

Long Pond to Oxen Pond (Botanical Garden)
This walk creates a new route up the face of Mount Scio, linkng the walk at Shamrock Farm with the Memonal University Botanical Garden. The "terrain makes this a challenging yet rewarding experience for the walker. Tremendous views of the City are found near the top of Mount Scio, in the vicinity of the VOWR radio tower. The hillside portion of the trail is steep, and incorporates stairs in several locations. However, walkers may reach the best lookout from the upper end of the trail, with considerably less effort. The trail from the Vivarium on Mount Scio Road to the lookout is barrier free. Completion of the trail is expected early in the fall of this year, but the entire route is currently passable.

Support for the design and construction of the Long Pond to Oxen Pond Walk is provided by Human Resources Development Canada, and Grand Concourse member organizations.

MUN Visitors Walk
The aim of the Visitors walk is to permit walkers to take a self guided tour of the University, and learn about the academic activities undertaken at Memorial, as well as the development of the current Campus. While much of the physical walk is already in place, the Grand Concourse is creating a clearly identifiable walking circuit through the campus using granite bollards bearing the University's coat of arms to mark the way. Enhanced entry points at key street intersections at the periphery of the campus are planned to highlight the identity of the Memorial University Campus, and draw pedestrians to the Visitor's Walk. Interpretive panels placed along the walk will highlight the academic activities and achievement of Memorial University facility, students and staff.

Support for the development of the MUN Visitors Walk has been provided by the University and the Grand Concourse Authority, (with the assistance of Human Resources Development Canada, and the Grand Concourse Authority member organizations). The Johnson Family Foundation is providing support for the research and production of interpretive materials, with the assistance of the University.