New bench offers front row seat to beauty of nature at Perth’s Last Duel Park
Friends of the Tay Watershed unveiled new bench on May 27
Desmond Devoy
Perth Courier
Thursday, June 2, 2022
The Friends of the Tay Watershed have donated a bench at Last Duel Park.
“It gives people the opportunity to sit and relax,” said Glenn Tunnock of the Friends during the unveiling ceremony on Thursday, May 27. The site for the bench was chosen because of the “incredible view of the river,” he said.
It was also a way to commemorate the Friends’ 20th anniversary this year.
Tunnock acknowledged that the land was unceded Algonquin territory, and that Canada’s Indigenous Peoples have been on this land in this part of the continent for at least 10,000 years.
They “have taken care of the stewardship of our land base, our Mother Earth, so that’s a very important part of the legacy of this area as well.”
With the addition of the bench, “we hope to add to that” legacy.
The Friends had a seat on the town hall committee that examined the future of Last Duel Park, when it ceased to operate as a campground.
“We came up with a number of ideas,” said Tunnock, which were later presented to town hall in a report. These ideas included adding to the forested area of the park, a possible amphitheatre, an arboretum, preserving the waterway and even an Indigenous healing centre.
“You guys are an incredible group,” said Mayor John Fenik during the ceremony. He commended their webinar series, “how you look after the watershed here, and clean it up; your volunteerism is invaluable. Today, water and resources are so important. So I want to thank you guys for this.”
He thanked the Friends for the donation of the bench and joked that “I think I’ve found my next favourite place to have a boxed lunch! Or maybe just having a nap.”
With thanks to the Town of Perth and the Perth Courier.
