Esson Road project meeting brings neighbours’ ideas to fore

Neighbourhood residents recently gathered at Dartmouth South Academy to discuss a project to beautify the plot of land between the end of Esson Road and the sports field behind the school.

The land, which is owned by the Halifax Regional Municipality but is not maintained as a city park, serves as a crucial pedestrian connection between DSA and Esson Road, along with other connecting streets. Well-trodden and oft-muddy paths allow students, dog walkers, and other pedestrians to reach the field and DSA while avoiding the longer walk around the Esson and Milverton blocks.

Twenty people gathered on Feb. 18 to discuss the land, which currently challenges pedestrians with tall weeds, non-native thorny plants, and uneven ground. The Esson Road project has been granted $1,500 from HRM’s Neighbourhood Placemaking Program – enough to help fund the purchase of new plants and other items that, combined with some elbow grease from the community, could improve the appearance and usability of the land.

“I am so pleased to work with residents of the Southdale/Esson Road area, on a project that is about bringing improvements to their neighborhood,” said HRM Councillor Becky Kent, who attended the meeting and has helped raise awareness of the project. “Community placemaking is about finding spaces in neighborhoods where people can gather, engage with each other, and be safe in.”

Kent told the Post that the land changed when Dartmouth South Academy was built – what used to connect cars and people to the field at the top of the hill became disconnected and unattended, growing wild. “Residents want to clean it up and create a nice place to be and use,” Kent said. “I am happy to help.”

At the meeting, residents discussed a number of ideas for the project, such as adding native and pollinator plants, tearing out invasive species and installing a bench. The group also discussed long-term desires like hardscaped improvements to the path, especially as it crosses a drainage ditch, and gardening beds. The group also heard several ideas from students at DSA, shared at the meeting by social studies and health teacher Ryan Bucci.

Residents also discussed concerns they had about how improvements could attract vandalism or misbehaviour, with a focus on keeping the area safe for children and adults.

“It was great to see so many neighbours discussing this project, and also Mr. Bucci’s class from DSA making an amazing contribution,” said Christian Ensslin, a key organizer for the project. “I feel very encouraged that together, as a neighbourhood, we can turn this area into a much better space than what it is now.”