Image

Warwick looks at options to improve downtown Watford

May 6, 2017

Warwick Township may take an in-depth look at ways to improve Watford’s downtown.
Vicki Luke, an agriculture and rural economic development advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, recently talked to councillors about a Downtown Revitalization Program.
Luke says the ministry helps small communities take a look at what they have available in the community, what the members of the community need and what opportunities are available to build a plan to help bring the downtown back to life.
Luke says typically when people think of improving the downtown of a community, they think of physical improvements “but that’s just one piece.”
Luke says it is important for the municipality to put together a group from both public and private sectors to first spend several months studying the community and then to come up with a plan.
She added OMAFRA works closely with the group and recommends a local coordinator be hired. “There are manuals for the community to work from, including surveys of people and different groups… so you have the information to make your own decisions.”
Information such as how many restaurants does the community need or what services would be helpful.
“Once you have your information, you develop goals and action plans,” Luke says “What do you want people to think of when you think of this municipality?”
Luke says implementing the plan takes a lot of time. The ministry does have grants available to help rural communities improve their downtown.
Warwick councillors will consider the idea at a future council meeting.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Plans for Camlachie mini arena shelved

April 24, 2025

The project’s drivers – the Huron Shores Optimists – say it would place a financial burden on the club Heather Wright/The Independent The Huron Shores Optimist and the Town of Plympton-Wyoming say they will be working together on a recreation project in Camlachie, but it won’t be the $2.3 million outdoor arena project. The Optimist floated the idea of an

Read More

Image
Front Page

Petrolia, WM give out $15K in green grants

April 23, 2025

There will be more trails, trees and environmentally-friendly lighting thanks to the Town of Petrolia and WM’s Green Grants. The town announced $15,000 in funding on Earth Day. 2025 Successful Projects: The IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter was successful in their application for Moncreif Park and JubileeTrail Revitalization in the amount of $5,000. The funds will be used to plant native

Read More

Image
Front Page

‘We will be fighting this’ bid to push through York1 plan Canniff tells province

April 23, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent When Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff first got the call, he thought it was good news. Instead, he’s gearing up for an all-out fight to stop York1 Environmental Waste Solutions from pushing through its plans to reopen the derelict Dresden dump. Canniff got a call from the Minister of the Environment’s office Thursday around noon. When he returned

Read More

Image
Front Page

Petrolia Water intake contractor approved

April 22, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Two major projects in Petrolia are moving forward. In 2022, the town received of a $16 million grant to replace the Lake Huron water intake pipe which was installed in 1944 and is nearing the end of its life. Monday, Petrolia council awarded the contract for the new water intake at the Brights Grove Water Treatment Plant

Read More