Hey Len Daynes ... surprise! Ruth Merner, one of your neighbours, has nominated you as today's Neighbourhood Hero and your wife, Wendy, has known about it for weeks. She keeps good secrets doesn't she?

"I don't think Len would know who I am," Ruth told me, "but I've seen him in the park time and time again, right after he comes home from work, cleaning the paths, raking leaves and cutting grass. People in the community really appreciate what he has done ... and what he continues to do."

Ruth will soon present Len with his Neighbourhood Heroes certificated that reads, "Thanks to Len's leadership, a group of neighbours have created a beautiful park that is used and enjoyed by people of all ages. And he didn't just get the park started and then walk away. He's there almost every day very quietly, without fanfare, doing what needs to be done to keep it maintained. His efforts have also created an amazing community spirit that spreads far beyond the park. Our community is a much more pleasant place to live thanks to Len's efforts."

So how will Len react when he sees this column and receives his certificate? Len's wife, Wendy, says, "... he'll just brush it off, grin and carry on but I think he'll really be proud. It's a nice tribute."

Apparently when the Parkwood community was being built, the two pieces of land set aside for parks became a dumping ground for construction waste materials.

Eight years ago, the neighbours decided to do something about it. Wendy joined in immediately but Len chose not to get involved at first. However, once the action started, he dove in headfirst and hasn't stopped since. In fact he's done so much, a lot of people wanted to name the park after him.

Of course Len didn't create the park single handedly. Seventy-five people turned out for the first clean up and many continued to turn up as the park took shape.

It took a lot of community fundraising and support from several businesses to get the job done. Herb Veasy donated his excavator. Norman Jones donated a dumpster and kept on dumping as the park was cleared of debris. Art Knapp donated gardening materials. Ralmax donated pea gravel and there were many other donors as well. More than Wendy could remember.

Of course the park has playground equipment for children but it also has a nice treed green space for the kids and another quieter area with benches perfect for a little quiet reflection.

The quieter area also has a shelter that houses a ride on lawn mower and gas-powered weed eater both bought by funds raised through community volunteers who aerated lawns in the community for twenty dollars apiece. By the way this fundraiser didn't happen last year because of a shortage of volunteers -- they need 16. So if you live in the area and want to see this fundraiser happen again, you might want to give Len a call.

Perhaps the park isn't the greatest gift Len Daynes gave to his community. Ruth Merner says that the community spirit has soured as a result of all the effort. The annual community Halloween party and July first party are just two examples.

So, a pat on the back to Len Daynes for being one of the major spark plugs that made the park happen and an even bigger pat for quietly keeping it maintained. It would have been easy for him to run out of steam and leave the maintenance part for others ... but he didn't.