A step towards beautifying the Esson Road paths
Residents on Esson Road are looking to tidy up a well-trodden pathway.
Cleaning up the often-used footpaths, which connect the top of Esson Road to Dartmouth South Academy and Research Drive, is the latest project for locals. The patch of land is used frequently by students, dog walkers and other residents walking between these locations.
Christian Ensslin lives near the area and is spearheading the effort to tidy up the paths which are overgrown and often muddy.
“I use the land. My kids use this land,” he says. “I want to live in a nice neighborhood, and I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.”
Ensslin says he has secured $1,500 through Halifax’s Neighbourhood Placemaking Program, which will go towards purchasing materials for the beautification process. The clean-up effort will be led by community volunteers.
Councillor Becky Kent met with Ensslin on location at Esson Road to get a view of the pathways and what work needs to be done.
She says she’s happy to get behind the opportunity, but says there’s a few steps that need to be taken to get the ball rolling; steps which include costs beyond what the $1,500 will cover.
“We have to have some conversations with [HRM Parks & Recreation] and the staff there,” says Kent. “Because it is a municipal property, that leads to if we’re going to create a park.”
Kent also intends to plan a meeting with locals in the area in the new year.
“I’m looking to make sure we do have a little further community engagement, so we have a sense of what the needs are,” she says.
Ensslin says he’s pleased with his meeting with the councillor, and looks forward to getting the community together to discuss what needs to be done next.
“The city hasn’t looked after [the area] very well, and I’m glad to see that hopefully that’s going to change,” he says.
Those who are interested in attending the community meeting about the Esson Road project should stay tuned for more information, with a meetup to take place as early as the end of January.