First Local - The park mural project June 9, 2010

FEARED HAS NOW TURNED INTO A PLACE OF CULTURE, RELAXATION, AND COMFORT AND AS FIRST LOCAL'S JOANNE DAVIS REPORTS ALL IT TOOK WAS A LITTLE PAINT AND SOME ELBOW GREASE. >>FIONA FOUNTAIN: I LOVE HAVING A PICNIC IN THE PARK WITH MY MOM AND DAD AND LITTLE BROTHER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. >>REPORTER: AND NOW THREE YEAR OLD FIONA AND HER FAMILY CAN PICNIC IN PEACE AT THE GORDON S. SHIPP MEMORIAL PARK IN MISSISSAUGA AFTER A COMBINED REVITALISING EFFORT HELPED TO CLEAN THIS PARK >>STRONG: THE PREMISE OF THE PROJECT WAS REALLY TO PREVENT VANDALISM AND GRAFFITI AND GANG ACTIVITY THAT IS VERY PREVALENT IN THIS AREA. >>REPORTER: AND WITH THE HELP OF UNITED WAY, THE CITY OF MISSISSAUGA AND 150 VOLUNTEER STUDENTS, SENIORS AND RESIDENTS THIS PARK PLUS FIVE OTHERS THROUGHOUT MISSISSAUGA ARE SEEING NEW LIFE. >> DUPUIS: WHEN YOU CREATE OPEN SAFE SPACES IT REALLY REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF GANGS COMING IN AND HAVING THAT SORT OF NEGATIVE IMPACT IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. SO BY CREATING PROJECTS LIKE THIS YOUR GIVING RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OVER THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURHOODS THEY LIVE IN WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. >>FOOTE: EACH OF THE PARKS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THEY REALLY NEEDED SOME LOVE.>>REPORTER: AND ANGELA A STUDENT FROM PAST WEST WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE MAKING SURE THAT LOVE WAS PROVIDED. >>ADDANTE: IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD ESPECIALLY CAUSE NOW WE'RE PART OF HISTORY SO WE CAN COME BACK HERE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AND OUR MURAL IS STILL GOING TO BE HERE SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE A PART OF HISTORY BE APART OF MISSISSAUGA'S HISTORY BECAUSE YOU DON'T REALLY GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT.>>REPORTER: AND IT'S NOT JUST STUDENTS WHO ARE ENJOYING THE CHANGES. >>FOUNTAIN: DO YOU LIKE THE PARK? YES. WHY? THE TREES ARE GROWING AND THE LAWN RIGHT NOW AND THE BIRDS ARE SINGING AND STUFF AND THE GRASS IS GROWING. >>REPORTER: IN