“We want to promote The Nation River and Chesser Park,” said Ken St-Denis, parks and recreation director for Alfred-Plantagenet Township.

The small neighbourhood park already provides heritage value to the village with its proximity to old Chesser Cemetery site, which dates to Plantagenet’s pioneer origins. Chesser Park also serves as a park-and-ride site for PR Transpo service when it is operating.

The new gazebo addition, St-Denis noted, will enhance the park’s appearance as “the entry point” to the village for many visitors and residents.

Future plans for the park include developing a small dock, with accessibility ramps, for the use of kayakers and canoeists travelling along The Nation River as it flows through the village centre. The dock will serve as both a starting point and a stop site for recreational boaters heading towards the Jessup’s Falls Conservation Area further downstream, and help add to the village’s summer tourism economy.

The United Counties of Prescott-Russell has provided the township with $4000 to assist with promoting its river recreation attractions. The South Nation Conservation Authority has also offered help with tree planting for riverside landscape enhancement and habitat protection.