Georgetown Horticultural Society Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Today the Georgetown Horticultural Society celebrated its 90th anniversary by unveiling their latest community project, the redeveloped Mary Street Parkette.

The Society decided to celebrate by doing what they do best: gardening. Mary Street Parkette was chosen for their makeover project. Since getting approval from the Town they have been busy redesigning the parkette and finding sponsors to assist. The Town is also a partner in the project.

From the Town's point of view, this is a very beneficial partnership because ultimately it is the maintenance of gardens that is difficult for the Town to fund and do properly. The commitment of the Horticultural Society to look after the planting beds is a real bonus for the Town and the neighbourhood.

The Town was able to create the planting beds and then the volunteers went to work planting them. Now the Parkette is rejuvinated with colourful perennials, pathways and a lovely bench.

I was discussing with one of the attendees at today's celebration, the role of volunteers in keeping the Town looking lovely. Other municipalities usually have horticultural specialists on staff but that is not the case in Halton Hills. However, we have beautiful gardens at the Civic Centre, the Hospital Courtyard, the entrance to Greenwood Cemetary and now Mary Street Parkette courtesy of the Georgetown Horticultural Society. Interestingly, the Oakville Horticultural Society only maintains one very small public garden in comparison. We are certainly rich on the volunteers side of the balance sheet.


The Mary Street Parkette was rejuvinated once before by members of the Georgetown Canadian Federation of University Women. They worked with the neighbourhood to save the parkette from being sold for housing. The community worked together to get donations and then a mass planting day was held. The parkette was rejuvinated in one day.

Unfortunately the parkette maintenance was not kept up because there was no formal organization to take this on.

With the Horticultural Society in charge this time around the park is in very good hands.

Mary Street is located off of Princess Anne Drive near Park School.