Deadline to Submit Names for New Park Extended

Cape Breton students have an extra week to send in their submissions to name the new park being built over the former Sydney Tar Ponds site.

The new deadline is Friday, April 26 at midnight.

The Sydney Park Project campaign, which was launched in March by the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, is inviting Cape Breton students from Grades primary to 12 to submit their suggestions.

"We've received a lot of positive feedback about the campaign so far, as well as questions, and requests for site tours," said Gary Campbell, president of Nova Scotia Lands Inc. "By extending the deadline for submissions by a week, we're hoping to make sure as many students as possible get a chance to have their voices heard."

The proposed park names and the student's explanation for why they chose it will be evaluated based on how original and optimistic the submission is, as well as how it relates to the area's past, present or future - physically and/or historically. Names reflective of all local heritage and cultures are welcome, but names of specific people will not be considered for the park site.

The top submissions will be posted on the campaign website in May, and Canadians will then be able to vote for their favourite. The voting period will run for about four weeks, and the winner, along with the official name of the new park, will be announced at a special community announcement in June.

More information about the Sydney Park Project naming campaign, including the application form, tips on submitting, and contest rules and regulations, is available at www.sydneyparkproject.ca.

Sydney-area residents and visitors can look forward to sports fields, an outdoor stage, a playground area, dog park, skating area and pedestrian bridges, trails and more when the park opens to the public this fall. The project is within budget, and is on schedule to be finished by March 2014.

For updates about the Sydney Park Project, follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.