Brussels Leo Club hopes to reinvigorate village's playgrounds - April 11, 2019

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Huron East Councillor and Brussels Leo Club leader Zoellyn Onn says the recently-reinvigorated youth club has some lofty ambitions for the coming years with hopes of refurbishing the village’s playgrounds.

Onn mentioned the club’s plans at Huron East Council’s April 2 meeting, asking council’s permission to investigate options for improved playground equipment at the Optimist Ballpark and conservation area playgrounds, with the hopes of installing a splash pad at the former to complement the Brussels Pool.

She told councillors that she had no idea how much it would cost or how long it would take the club to raise the money, but it’s important to the members, so she wanted to do what she could to lay the groundwork for the initiative.

Mayor Bernie MacLellan warned against overloading the community with fundraising requests just as those behind the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre renovation and expansion are preparing to go out into the community looking for donations. Onn acknowledged the timing, saying that the Leo Club members know that it might not be the best time, but that they’re willing to stick with the project for as long as it takes.

The project was spurred along, Onn said, after she attended the PRO (Parks and Recreation of Ontario) Educational Forum and Trade Show in Toronto and saw what was available in the province and how it could serve Brussels and its youth.

In an interview after the meeting, Onn said the Leo Club members have been thinking about a grand project for the village for a while and improving its aging playground infrastructure only made sense.

She said that members wanted to ensure that they helped improve the community centre in their own way as well, so they will be careful not to overlap. However, after the club’s success in establishing the sports pad years ago, they felt there was no reason they couldn’t improve the playgrounds the way they wanted to.

Onn said she has been encouraged by the enthusiasm of the group and will do everything she can to help them along. In speaking with members, Onn said that it’s all about completing the project at hand. If it takes them a number of years to raise the money, she said, they’ll stick with it.

The club has a number of events planned for the next few months. After its Easter activities, funds from which are earmarked for Christopher Pennington’s annual kidney walk, all money raised by the Leos will go towards their playground project, says Onn.

The club is hosting an Easter egg hunt to coincide with the Brussels Lions Club breakfast on Sunday, April 14. One- to four-year-olds are welcomed to hunt for eggs between 9-10 a.m., while five- to seven-year-olds will search from 10-11 a.m. outside the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre.

The club is also planning a MuchMusic video dance in July. 

For more information on the club, find its page on Facebook.