Before he passed away in the summer of 2014, Donald Pray would often state that there should to be a sidewalk linking the circular drive of Park Street Place Residence in Dresden.
To walk around the building used to require residents to venture onto Park Street, which is not especially busy, but is a street nonetheless.
It was not an entirely safe place for pedestrians of any age.
While making funeral arrangements, Pray’s wife Joan and his daughter Heather Bedell agreed with the rest of the family that in lieu of donations to charities or foundations, funeral attendees would be invited to contribute to a Park Street Place Memorial Sidewalk Fund.
One week after Pray was laid to rest, Bedell with the help of Lou Anne Fox held an auction using the Facebook group called ‘Help From the Heart.’
Able to raise another $1,000, Bedell said her family and friends had raised nearly the full amount required to build the sidewalk.
Nearly a year and a half later the fundraising goal was met thanks to contributions from the relatives and friends of Don Pray, Mary Robinson and Mary Sevcik.
Chatham-Kent Ready Mix provided the concrete at-cost and as soon as his quote was accepted, contractor John Harris was able to complete the build in just over two days.
The names of memorialized residents are engraved on plaques which are installed on benches along the walk.
The new path links the two ends of the semi-circular driveway and provides a much safer route for residents looking to get some fresh air and exercise.
“When the residents walk around the building they don’t have to walk on the road and risk getting hit by a car,” said Anne Byrne, executive director of Care at Park Street Place. “They can sit on some of the benches and enjoy them. The town installed sidewalks on the opposite side of the road. It didn’t help us any because when we come up our driveway, we have a circular driveway in front of the building, you have to actually go on the street. What the sidewalk did was eliminate any potential of someone getting hit.”
The completion of the new memorial sidewalk is an especially poignant event for one resident in particular.
Joan Pray, Donald Pray’s wife moved into Park Street Place soon after his passing.
The long awaited monument, dedicated to the memory of her husband will improve quality of life for herself and other residents and keep that memory alive long into the future.
– Story by Wesley McDonald
– Submitted photo
