On June 6, 2016, Jason Thorne, Community Services Director for the Town of Sussex, was introduced at the meeting. Jason grew up in Sussex, along with his three sisters.
After university graduation, Jason worked for the government for some time. Still, when a position for Recreation Director for the Town of Sussex became vacant, he applied and became part of the Town’s management team...
Jason delivered a presentation on the Trout Creek Master Plan and Leonard's Gate. With the aid of aerial shots, Jason showed how erosion had affected Trout Creek from 1953 up to the present. The Town has done some things in an attempt to stop the erosion, but these efforts have only been temporary fixes. A long term plan includes different phases starting with the channelling of Trout Creek to reduce flooding during spring melts and times of excessive rain.
A few years ago, the Town of Sussex hired BDA Landscape Architects, a local company, to come up with a plan to connect the downtown core with some of the recreational areas. The program includes an improved Trout Creek, a permanent walking bridge constructed of steel given to the Town from PotashCorp, and improved walking trails. The Town of Sussex is open to hearing from service clubs who might be willing to sponsor some of the projects.
Jason was asked about plans for O’Connell Park. This is a different project, but there are some plans for this area as well, including a picnic structure, changing rooms, and washrooms.