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Listowel, Ontario
Memorial Arena Park ’59 is a centrally located recreational space that pays tribute to a significant tragedy that took place at the same location. On February 28, 1959, the former arena collapsed while a boy’s hockey team was practicing. Eight lives were lost in the tragedy, including seven young players along with their coach.
The park project was approached with great sensitivity and compassion in efforts to preserve the memory of the lives lost and those affected by the collapse, while also providing the community with a recreational space that reflects the lively spirit of the former Listowel Memorial Arena. The community presence throughout the project was significant. Several stakeholder groups were engaged throughout the process, including the MAP '59 committee that was dedicated to fundraising and community outreach.
The design includes walking paths and several gathering areas for various sizes of groups and activities, including a front entry market space, a memorial, a sensory play area, a large open lawn suitable for winter ice, and a community harvest table. The memorial spaces are located across the park, including a conceptual hockey board structure with eight sets of bronze skates, a marker at the former arena’s centre ice, and a Survivor’s Grove with eight flowering memorial trees.