Bonnechere Valley Mayor Jennifer Murphy and Gerald Tracey at Sunday's dedication. (Bonnechere Valley photo)
Eganville’s Centennial Park has been rededicated and is now known as Gerald Tracey Park.
“This initiative was brought forward by the McCann family, who originally donated the lands, to honour Mr. Tracey and all the volunteers who devoted countless hours to the creation of the park and the betterment of the community,” reads a notice from Bonnechere Valley Township. “Thank you to all who participated in making the Gerald Tracey Park Rededication Ceremony a huge success!”
Tracey, publisher of the Eganville Leader newspaper, chaired the Eganville Centennial Committee, which was formed in 1988 to undertake three main projects for the 1991 celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Eganville.
The park was the committee’s major project and hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised to build the park along the south shore of the Bonnechere River on 13 acres of land donated by the McCann family.
Tracey is also known for his involvement in several other community projects including Fairfields assisted living complex, the splash pad and the rebuilding of church towers at St. James Roman Catholic and Grace Lutheran churches following fires in 1993 and 1997, respectively, and the Save the Legion campaign during COVID.
The park dedication was held on Sunday, May 25, Tracey’s 72nd birthday.
(Written by: Sherry Haaima)