Quispamsis Mayor Libby O'Hara is joined by her mother, Teresa, her daughter Megan and her granddaughter Fiona during a swearing-in ceremony on June 7, 2021. (Image: Brad Perry)
The mayor of Quispamsis believes things have gone well in the town during her first seven months in the role.
Libby O’Hara was elected mayor during the May 2020 municipal election after spending two terms as deputy mayor.
In a year-end interview, O’Hara said there were several positive initiatives last year, despite the ongoing pandemic.
One thing the new mayor said she is really proud of is the new rainbow crosswalk on Randy Jones Way at the qplex.
“This wasn’t a huge infrastructure project, but it was one of our first orders of business as a new council in June,” said O’Hara.
“Quispamsis is known as a welcoming, progressive municipality, and the rainbow crosswalk serves as an important symbol of our town’s inclusive spirit.”
The town also undertook massive improvements at Meenan’s Cove Park, one of its most popular destinations.
O’Hara said they have nearly doubled the seating capacity at the beach house, making it an even more popular destination for weddings and community events.
They also built a berm to keep out floodwaters during the spring freshet, redesigned the parking area and playground, upgraded the ballfield, and installed a generator at the beach house so it can serve as a comfort centre during emergencies.
“So far, the feedback from the residents has been extremely positive. They love the renovations and the additional space,” said O’Hara.
The town also partnered with Millennium Cycle and Sport to open up a new bike park across the road from Meenan’s Cove Park.
At just under six kilometres in length, the trail is for all riders, from beginner to advanced cyclists.
Looking ahead to 2022
The town of Quispamsis also has lots on its agenda for the next 12 months. O’Hara said upgrades will be taking place this year at Hammond River Park.
“We held an extensive public engagement process and the survey results told us that users would like to have access to washrooms, a small playground, picnic shelters, and several BBQ pits,” she said.
All of those suggestions will be incorporated into the design, said O’Hara.
Other capital projects include resurfacing the tennis courts and adding two more pickleball courts.
O’Hara said she is also excited to move forward with the town’s strategic plan, which will be delivered in the spring.
This year will also mark the second full year for Envision Saint John, the region’s new growth agency.
“We are excited about the prospects of our region as our municipalities work together on economic development, tourism, and population growth,” said O’Hara. “We know when the city grows that our region and the province will grow and be economically healthier.”
O’Hara said the local municipalities are “walking the walk” when it comes to regional cooperation, and she believes Envision could serve as a template for the rest of the province.
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