A group of community members is exploring the possibility of creating a three-season pavilion in Green Acres Park.
A volunteer community-driven committee called the Teulon Community Development Initiative (TCDI) is looking at a project to create a pavilion with a fully equipped commercial kitchen, which would allow for food and liquor preparation and service in the park since the current facilities no longer meet Manitoba Health standards. The proposed facility would also include modern washrooms.
David Leduchowski, a member of TCDI, said they’re hoping to fund the project through fundraisers, grants and tax-deductible donations.
“Green Acres Park and campground in Teulon is a beautiful green space but on-site food preparation by user groups in the park is impossible as the current facilities do not meet modern health and safety standards,” he said.
“The park also lacks centrally located modern washrooms in quantity to properly service larger park events. The park currently offers little in the way of a dining and shelter area that could be used weather dependent.”
For community members, he paints a picture of how the committee envisions the facility.
“Imagine a 6,000-square-foot three-season pavilion with a fully equipped commercial kitchen, seating for 300 to 350 people and clean modern washrooms,” he said.
“The seating area is surrounded by six 16-foot-wide overhead glass doors for pure natural lighting inside when closed and a shaded open-air ambience when open. An outdoor patio, fenced beer garden area and natural gas fireplace or fire pit are included in the proposed plans.”
The facility would enhance current park events and could also attract new celebrations, tournaments corporate gathering, charitable fundraisers, campsite user groups and much more.
The vision for the building focuses on three main purposes.
“It needs to allow the preparation and service of food and liquor in the park as the current facilities no longer meet Manitoba Health standards. It needs to offer modern washrooms in quantity to serve large park events,” Leduchowski said.
“And it needs to offer an insulated three-season dining and socializing space for shelter or shade depending on the weather. The space should be as simple and open as possible to cater to a wide array of user functions.”
For anyone concerned that the proposed project might negatively impact usage at the Teulon-Rockwood Community Centre, Leduchowski points to a similar facility built in Ste. Agathe’s park and campground 25 years ago. He said a recreation representative from Ste. Agathe noted that the building attracted more summer users and various groups to the park but didn’t have a negative impact on the community hall since the two buildings offer a different environment and ambiance.
In Teulon and beyond, the proposed project is already catching attention and garnering support.
“We have letters of support for this project from the Town of Teulon, the RM of Rockwood and numerous community groups. We currently have a unique opportunity,” he said.
“A few generations ago, our forebears thought it worthwhile to build a community centre, a hockey rink and a curling rink. It is time to build the next generation of town amenities that our children and grandchildren can use and improve upon.”
The estimated cost ranges from $500,000 to $750,000, depending on the options included in the plan. The final building location is to be determined.
Community members are welcome to share their input through a survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GAPPSURVEY2025 or through the Town of Teulon’s website at www.teulon.ca. The deadline to participate in the survey is Monday, April 7, 2025.
“If you wish to help, need more information or want to offer your opinion, we’d like to hear from you. If the survey results are positive, we ask for interested user groups or individuals to sit on the TCDI committee to help plan a building that will offer universal appeal,” Leduchowski said.
“We would like the TCDI committee to remain as an entity going forward to spearhead ideas and present future researched needs and firm proposals to the town. Perhaps your local group can benefit in the future with its specific needs.”
For more information or to get involved, email tcdirockwood@gmail.com.
