Downgrading park short-sighted: Brereton Field Naturalists

Barrie Examiner March 7, 2013

We are asking you not to downgrade Springwater Provincial Park, on March 31, 2013.

This park has been well-used and cherished by Simcoe County residents, and many others, for decades.

The nature trails provide opportunity to introduce children (and all ages) to the workings of the natural world. The ability to see rehabilitated wildlife (after injury), and understand more about their lives and needs gives us all a deeper understanding of other species and our responsibilities as stewards of our planet.

When we see the too-familiar syndrome of ‘nature deficit disorder’ becoming so prevalent in our 21st century lifestyle, the existence of Springwater Park and its amenities provides a golden opportunity to introduce and re-educate our families about the natural world which sustains us.

Our Brereton Field Naturalists’ Club has held winter outings and potluck lunches at the park, and we have been happy to pay for the pavilion rental and entry charges to use these facilities.

In more recent years, the park has not always provided a functioning user payment system. Thus we see newspaper reports of MNR staff stating that revenues were declining and insufficient to keep the park at operating status.

The MNR’s current plans will offer a park for free use by the public, but propose to take away the facilities that help to make it attractive to the users who would pay to keep it operating.

This seems particularly short-sighted, as Barrie is the only designated Urban Growth Centre for Simcoe County (under Places To Grow — Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan).

Barrie is projected to grow by approximately 75,000 persons by 2031.

This park is only five kilometres from Barrie, across Highway 26 from the diverse city-owned community sports complex of soccer, rugby, football and baseball fields, and down the road from the Simcoe County Museum and Archives property.

What an opportunity to attract new users to the park, if properly managed and promoted!

On Feb. 28, 2013, as reported in the Barrie Examiner, Simcoe County council approved a motion to lobby the province to keep Springwater Park open for another year with its current amenities and attractions intact. It also voted to offer the MNR in-kind assistance from the county and Springwater Township to better market the 193-hectare park.

The Brereton Field Naturalists’ Club urges you, as our premier and as the minister responsible, to work with Simcoe County, Springwater Township and other local partners to successfully keep Springwater Park open and operating with its current amenities and attractions intact, for now, and the future.

We await your response to our concerns about this important issue.

Dave Lord

President, Brereton Field Naturalists’ Club