Group raises cash to help reopen Springwater Park

By Laurie Watt Barrie Advance

A year of uncertainty about Springwater Park’s future has sown the seeds — and cash — for meaningful talks on a partnership to reopen the facility.

The Springwater Park Foundation has so far raised $103,000 and it’s putting its cash where its mouth is as it plans talks with the province’s Natural Resources Ministry.

Declared non-operational on March 31, 2013 because the facility was losing about $100,000 annually, the park, which opened in 1927, features a playground as well as washrooms and a picnic shelter.

Closure meant animals in a sanctuary were moved out last summer. Parking lots were closed off and washrooms locked.

Visitors have still been able to access the 193 hectares, which remain protected, but must park outside and walk in. And people have in droves.

According to the Springwater Park Foundation’s fundraiser Jack Garner, there’s a good business case for support.

“We have four or five service clubs, the Barrie and District Hunters and Anglers, and dozens of corporations who’ve donated over $100,000 to use, to put in a reserve fund,” Garner said.

“Last spring, the ministry said they’ll not reopen the park, then later said if a group of people came forward and guaranteed the park wouldn’t cost any money (they would) reconsider.”

Now that the money’s set aside, Springwater Park Foundation chairperson Nancy Bigelow said she’s working to set a date to meet with the ministry. She can tell stories of people who have come to appreciate the park, which the ministry had said was experiencing a drop in visitors.

“You have to walk in, but it’s absolutely gorgeous. There are trails and plenty of people. On the weekends, it’s packed. All through the winter, there were snowshoers and cross-country skiers. It’s been impressive,” Bigelow said.

“I was talking to a guy who had been in the United States for 15 years and this was his first time coming in. He was devastated (to hear about the closure),” she said.

Ministry statistics showed that in its final year of operation, Springwater Park had just 33,303 visitors, down significantly from the 1993 peak of 65,000.

In its last year, the park lost $100,000, but now that the animals have been moved out, Bigelow estimates the annual operating cost would ring in about $60,000 per year.

The ministry also noted the park required about $1 million in capital upgrades and its closure averted that.

Despite the buildings and washrooms needing work, a group of Anishinabe women moved in and set up Camp Nibi. They spent all summer and fall there, and moved out just before Christmas.

“There won’t be so many overnight times. We’re not moving back in, but we’ll be doing ceremonies and teaching,” said the group’s Elizabeth Brass Elson. “We’re Camp Nibi and we plan on staying there forever. We haven’t finished our initiative.”

Springwater Park Citizens’ Coalition founder Les Stewart said talks are still ongoing and Springwater Township has set aside $10,000 to help reopen the park if an agreement is reached.

Running for deputy mayor of Springwater, Stewart said he’s keeping a keen eye on the park and efforts to reopen it.

“The park is in great shape and people have been using it all winter. We’re looking forward to an announcement from the MNR,” he said.