Through the incredible generosity of the local community and beyond, and much hard work and devotion to the project by the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society, Meaford is a major step closer to making Beautiful Joe Park at 162 Edwin Street accessible for all to enjoy.
In the autumn of 2020, the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society officially began fundraising to purchase a low-maintenance pedestrian bridge to cross the Bighead River joining Legion Park and Beautiful Joe Park. This small registered charity started with a nest egg of just $20,000, and set the project goal at $130,000 based on the price of a similar one in Tara. The bridge would create easy crossing over the Bighead River to the shade of historic Beautiful Joe Park. The bridge access would eliminate the steeply sloped and rutted driveway entrance that currently exists off Edwin St. Future parking would transition to the Legion Park side. By moving parking to the north side of the river, it would develop better access particularly for large vehicles and buses that cannot presently turn around if other vehicles are situated there. More importantly, the bridge creates full accessibility for those using mobility devices – scooters, rollators, walkers or wheelchairs, and for families pushing a stroller or pulling a wagon. Buses are not safe entering from Edwin St. into the park and in future would easily off-load on the Legion Park side once the bridge project is completed. This will be perfect for school trips and seniors’ outings, as well as tours.
Both parks are municipally-owned, thereby ruling the Society out of most government-related funding for capital projects like the pedestrian bridge. The $130,000 has been raised from private donations of all amounts, primarily within Grey-Bruce-Simcoe counties, but also even a few from outside Canada. In August 2025 alone, they raised over $11,200 and this included the final $9,000 cheque received from a generous local donor at Songs for Joe, an event held at Beautiful Joe Park on August 24.
The Society has been promoting and revitalizing the story of Beautiful Joe and the legacy of author Margaret Marshall Saunders since 1994, when it was formed on the 100th anniversary of the publication of Beautiful Joe. This children’s novel, about Meaford’s abused then rescued canine, was the first Canadian book to sell over one million copies and was once in the school curriculum and known internationally.
The Chair and Vice Chair of Beautiful Joe Heritage Society, Lynda Stephens and Sharon Mansion, met with Mayor Ross Kentner, Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney, and Meaford CAO Shawn Everitt in late September to give them the news of their achievement and to discuss next steps. All agreed that the bridge will make a huge difference in accessible greenspace in the downtown, improving downtown activity and tourism. It was further agreed that the Beautiful Joe story and his unique park are very important to Meaford’s past, present and future.
“The bridge project is now in the hands of the Municipality of Meaford. The Beautiful Joe Heritage Society is grateful to all who contributed to help reach the $130,000 goal and the support and encouragement of the community. They will continue to raise funds to make further enhancements to Beautiful Joe Park as well as components of the bridge project, such as enrichment of access points. Meaford has a heart and its spirit is truly in Beautiful Joe Park,” said the organization.
