Shout out to Cottam! In 1999, Cottam, as part of the Township of Gosfield North, amalgamated with Gosfield South and Kingsville to form the present day Town of Kingsville – making us a Community of Communities. You can learn a lot about Cottam’s past directly from the residents who contribute to the Cottam History Facebook Page.
Because of increased sewage capacity, residential development in Cottam has seen an uptick. New businesses have opened over the past few years including a pizzeria, pharmacy, two bakeries, a pub and more.
The Town is attentive to Cottam, identifying it as a community that would “benefit from the creation of a long-term strategy”. A Committee was formed and the Cottam Revitalization Plan, which includes four themes broken into short-term, mid-term and long-term recommendations, was created in 2018.
The committee chair, Kim Gilliland (pastor at Cottam United Church), had this to say about the plan’s progress:
In the two years since we finished our work, all of the short-term projects have been completed well ahead of the 5 year time frame. Some of the medium-term projects (6-10 year time frame) are being done now. Those projects included the following:
Rotary Park: new Christmas light displays, improved year round lighting, improved picnic area.
Ridgeview Park: improvements to baseball and soccer fields, improved lighting in the parking lot and driveway, creation of a walking path around the perimeter, pickle ball courts.
Talbot Street: better flower planters in the summer, street banners.
Town Council also provides grants to help businesses, individuals and community groups make improvements to their properties and programmes. The gazebo at Trinity Anglican Church and the Prayer Garden at Cottam United Church are two examples of projects that were completed with the assistance of the Town of Kingsville.
I often hear that all of Cottam’s tax dollars are going to Kingsville. I understand those thoughts because I once shared them. That’s why I got involved and, when I got involved, I discovered a Town Council that is very keen on making improvements in Cottam. And I am thankful for what we have achieved in a very short period of time.
Kim Gilliland, Cottam Revitalization Committee Chair, November 2020
More recently, Rotary Park received new play equipment and the tennis/pickleball courts have been refinished. The Flower Program was expanded to Cottam, and Banners for Veterans and the Spring program were added. The Veriena Blvd. island was beautified with new decorative cement, trees and mulch. And the Cottam United Church donated benches that the Town will pour cement pads for, as well as bike racks that will soon be installed. County Council, after requests from Town Council and the Police Services Board, just approved the long awaited four-way stop at County Rd 27 & 34 which will make it a safer intersection and serve to calm the traffic passing through the downtown. Despite two years of Covid disrupting many community events, we have been able to offer Movies in the Park, Fire Fest Pancake Breakfast and Play in the Park dates.
In September 2021, I suggested we relocate a multi-use court slated for Lion’s Park to Ridgeview Park to replace the existing basketball court which was in disrepair. The court was completed earlier this year. It’s kept busy with the newly formed Cottam Hoops, a successful youth recreational basketball program.
The Heritage Advisory Committee recommended and Council approved the first Heritage Designation for a Cottam property: the Christopher Dresser House. CBC’s Afternoon Drive picked up the story. We hope it is the first of more to come. Cottam has many culturally significant homes that tell the story of our community’s history.
Despite so much going on, of course, we can do more! The vacant Cottam School, with its proximity to Ridgeview Park, would be a perfect spot for programming. The walking path would benefit from being paved. I’ve received a few requests for a Cottam skate park. And the future of the library is still an unknown. With Cottam’s population growth and increase of young families, it’s time to see an increase in services offered.
Do you have ideas for what you would like the Town to pursue in Cottam next?
Let me know at: KingsvilleKim@gmail.com or 519-817-6328.
Kimberly DeYong 