Open house offers opportunity for input on proposed provincial park

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

UXBRIDGE: Earlier this year, the Province announced that it intends to create the first urban provincial park in Uxbridge, and residents will be able to learn more about the plan at an upcoming open house.

The public open house is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 23, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Uxbridge Secondary School cafeteria, located at 127 Planks Lane.

Local residents are encouraged to attend the drop-in session to learn more about the proposed park, partner organizations involved with the project as well as how to provide their comments to the appropriate agencies.

The proposed provincial park was first announced as part of the province’s 2023 budget and could include approximately 1,300 acres of provincially owned-lands. There are several agencies involved with the project to aid in identifying the full recreational and protection potential of the planed urban provincial park, including the township, the Region of Durham, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Green Durham association, The Schad Foundation, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

A press release from the township noted that it is expected that the province will be conducting site assessments and evaluations in the coming months to gauge the feasibility of the provincial park in Uxbridge. The measures are expected to include consultation with Indigenous communities, local stakeholders, partner organizations and other environmental organizations before plans can be finalized.