06/29/2026
Tonight Milton Rotary members are touring Rotary Park to learn about our history and how this gift to the Town of Milton came to be:
1947 - Milton Rotary Club is formed with 14 members and holds its first charter meeting on January 22, 1947
1951
Rotarians purchase the land where Rotary Park is now situated in downtown Milton; 15 acres for $1,000 (nearly $10,000 in 2019 dollars).
1954
Installation of a wading pool at Rotary Park; built at a cost of $1,800 (approx. $17,000 in 2019 dollars).
1956
Final payment made on the purchase of Rotary Park. Separately, a Carnival in the Park raises $500 for the installation of lights in Rotary Park.
July 1960
Park officially opens to the public with picnic benches, swings, sandboxes, and two baseball diamonds. Fireworks are set off to celebrate the grand opening. Herb Higgs, who at the time was in charge of Milton Minor Baseball and Minor Hockey, helped set up screens on the diamonds so that the Park could become the new headquarters for minor baseball in town.
1963
New pool opened at Rotary Park, built by public subscription. Rotary raised $64,000 from the public to build the pool. At the time the town only had about 6,000 residents, meaning they raised about $10 from every man, woman and child in town. Overall, this would be the equivalent of about $650,000 in 2026. At the time most homes in Milton did not feature an outdoor pool, and there were no recreation facilities with an indoor pool. The demand was high from the public. Rotarian Mike Ledwith was chair of the Rotary Park Pool Committee, and for his efforts he was recognized as 1963 Milton Citizen of the Year. To get the pool up and running, even Mike’s daughter was enlisted to work that summer at the pool.
1964
New steps from James St. to the Rotary Park are installed with funding raised primarily through Rotary efforts.
1966
Now substantially complete, the Town accepts the presentation of Rotary Park.
1975
Rotorama Carnival was introduced to the community in Rotary Park, raising over $7,000 ($33,000 in 2019 dollars) for the Credit Valley Treatment Centre (ErinOak Kids).
1980s and 1990s
Various events are held in Rotary Park including Canada Day and the Winter Carnival. Canada Day is operated by Rotary alongside other service clubs and the Town of Milton. Fireworks
Early 2000s
The Town of Milton completes a renovation of the outdoor pool and other park amenities.
2015
Milton Rotary fundraises $10,000 towards the installation of a new gazebo at Rotary Park in downtown Milton.
2025
The Town replaces the road and sidewalks in the Park.
2026
The Town will install a new sign at the park entrance which also acknowledges Milton Rotary’s contributions.
Attached are four photos. The first is a photo that is in Milton Town Hall of the Park as it is being developed. Likely from the late 1950s, just prior to the grand opening in 1960. The other is Canada Day in Rotary Park in 1983. The third is Mike Ledwith as the chair of the pool committee receiving fundraising money in 1962 or early 1963. The fourth is from 1956 and is the wading pool.
