Point Douglas park renamed Mokriy Ecological Reserve, after nature crusaders next door
The Shaughnessy Ecological Reserve in Point Douglas will be renamed Mokriy Ecological Reserve on Monday in honour of the couple who fought to create it and who take care of wildlife on the city-owned property.
Since 2008, Don and Olga Mokriy have advocated for the city to protect the wooded area behind their home on the corner of Aberdeen Avenue and Shuaghnessy Street. The land was finally listed as protected about two years ago, said Olga Mokriy.
Mokriy said hearing the plot of land will be renamed after her in her husband feels like a dream come true.
"It's extremely exciting, so grateful, I'm so very touched by this. So very touched," she said.
The land measures roughly 38 metres by 47 metres and is dense with trees. The area is home to rabbits, partridges, birds, a fox, an owl, woodpeckers, ducks, geese, squirrels.
Before the area was protected, Olga and her husband met with Coun. Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas) and showed him photos of the animals that lived there and how the community stood behind the idea of keeping the space wild, Mokriy said.
"I knew that some day this area would be developed, and I had to act on it. I had to see my councillor to try to assist me to preserve this green space for these animals for a wildlife habitat," said Mokriy.
People come from all over to bird watch, high school students hang out there on breaks, the sighting of a Eurasion tree sparrow in Manitoba brought dozens with their camera lenses, she said.
Mokriy and her husband take care of the area, removing any downed trees and keeping it free of garbage.
"When you look out your back window and you see all these animals residing there, you feel so grateful that they have a home, and doing this, preserving this area, was so important to me," she said.
