Sarnia’s Kinsmen Club is slowly making improvements to Baxter Park.
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The 12-member club is raising money towards more pickleball courts in the lakeshore park, to complement other well-used courts converted years ago from basketball court space, said president Terry MacGregor.
Money from the club’s annual Spring into Summer Art and Craft Show at the park is being built up for the project, he said, estimating the event that features artisans has raised $4,000 to $5,000 per year since it started in 2022.
The 2025 version is planned for May 3.
Hopes are to build up the fund, maybe to $50,000, before approaching city hall about adding another court or two to the park, MacGregor said.
The club that used to meet in a former school building in the Baxter Park demolished in 2018, would also like to return to the park some day, he said.
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Hopes are to eventually create a new meeting space for the club, that’s been meeting instead at Sarnia’s Navy Club since the former Kinsmen Center building at 656 Lakeshore Rd. was demolished amid mold and water damage, he said.
“It’s going to take a lot of time,” he said, adding “we would eventually like to see that happen.”
The club adopted Baxter Park in 2020participates in cleanup events there every year, and has also helped pergola fund and storyboards about the park’s history, MacGregor said.
It was once home to the Grand View hotel and is where the Baxter family continued to operate cottages after the hotel was demolished.
Funding for the park is just one aspect of what the service club does, said secretary Pat MacGregor, Terry MacGregor’s wife.
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Officials are planning to gift local non-profits like River City Vineyard, Ohana Landing, St. Vincent de Paul and others $28,000 Dec. 4, she said.
That money comes from the club’s annual Ribfestsaid Terry MacGregor.
It’s important to let the community know, Pat MacGregor said.
“So the community knows we are donating the money we have made from the people back to the community,” she said.
The Kinsmen club that turns 95 in 2025 also puts on the annual Santa Claus Parade in Sarnia.
This year’s is Dec. 7, starting at 6 pm from Exmouth and Christina Streets, and traveling south to Wellington Street.
More than 50 entries are expected, and money collected at the parade helps fund its return every year, Terry MacGregor said.
“It costs close to $20,000,” he said, including funding marching bands from the United States.
Non-perishable food items are also collected at the parade for local food banks.
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