06.Nov.2012 Grand Opening: Doug Wright Park, Burlington
by BK Munn
Adding to the very short list of Canadian Cartoonist Landmarks, the Doug Wright Park opened this past weekend in Burlington, Ontario –the city being the cartoonist’s home and the visual basis for his long-running strips Nipper and Doug Wright’s Family.
According to this article from Burlington.net, the official opening was an event:
“Doug Wright Park is one of four newly constructed parks the city has opened this year and is an impressive and welcomed addition to the collection of recreational spaces our city has to offer its residents,” said Scott Stewart, general manager of development and infrastructure.
Keeping with the cartooning theme, a caricaturist sketched personalized portraits while some children left chalk drawings and written remarks on the paved pathway describing what they love most about their new neighbourhood park.
The construction of this park involved staff from many different city departments—such as engineering; planning and building; roads and parks maintenance and parks and recreation.
“As with any large-scale project, there’s a team of people that work behind the scenes to ensure a project’s success,” said Chris Glenn, director of parks and recreation. “Together, this group of hardworking staff has created a unique, multi-use park that will serve the growing Alton community for years to come.”
Some features of the 3.25 hectare (8.03 acres) neighbourhood park include:
-A baseball diamond with lights, a half basketball court and other multi-use play areas
-An asphalt pathway system and paved parking lot with spaces for 42 vehicles
-A Doug Wright-inspired playground with engineered wood-fibre safety surfaces and unique seating areas showcasing Doug Wright’s cartoon characters
-Plenty of open space for children to play
Phyllis Wright Thomas, wife of the late Doug Wright along with her sons Bill and Jim listened as son, Ken, spoke about his father. “My dad was a quiet guy, not one to seek the spotlight. But I am sure he would be tickled pink to know that there’s a permanent remembrance in the form of a wonderful park with one-of-a-kind playground equipment bearing the Nipper characters in the city that we call home.”
jim b. 
