Springwater Park civil suit settled
By Janis Ramsay Barrie Advance
Ian Taylor didn’t have much to say after losing a civil lawsuit Tuesday over Springwater Provincial Park fundraising dollars.
Taylor had been president of the People for Parks Environment Initiative group — one of three citizens’ groups founded after the park was closed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in 2013.
Barrie resident Jack Garner joined the group shortly after and started fundraising efforts to cover the $100,000 operating deficit in order to convince the government to keep the park open.
When Garner heard the park wouldn’t be open by April 2014, he told the group it would have to return the funds.
But Taylor disagreed and after butting heads, Garner left the group, joining the Friends of Springwater Park Inc.
Taylor had already spent about $8,000 of the funds and to protect against any further spending of the money, Garner froze the funds.
On Tuesday, a judge agreed with Garner’s case and has ordered Taylor to repay the almost $8,000 taken, along with about $20,000 more to cover court costs and Garner’s legal fees.
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