Thank you for updating the…

Thank you for updating the Master Parks Plan. Please consider the following when preparing the new plan:

Stormwater drainage over the beach should be discouraged. Any stormwater that must drain over the beach should require enhanced pre-treatment to get the water quality to levels safe for body contact.

Recognizing the recreational opportunities of the beach, the natural environment MUST be protected. A balance can be achieved. The dune environment is rare in Ontario, and the park hosts plants and animals uncommon in other parts of the province. These must be protected in perpetuity.

Staff should be trained to identify rare plants/habitats and avoid them with their gators, trucks and foot patrols.

Provide more picnic tables. People enjoy their use and park users could benefit from a few more.

Mobility ramps are greatly appreciated. Please do not remove them or make them more narrow. Their presence should be advertised more to encourage those with mobility issues to visit the beach. Also, is there a way to extend the mobility ramp a bit to the left and right, as once the assistive device hits the sand, it's hard to move, so having a bit of a 'parking space' for the device would be appreciated. Can the area next to the mobility ramp be informally saved for those requiring mobility assistance?

Can a locals pass be provided for full time residents?

The influence of the municipal council over park operations and permitting process must be eliminated by setting clear roles and enforcing violations. Noting this could count as 'hearsay' I understand individuals with properties fronting onto the park have pressured municipal council to 'influence' the park to issue permits for modifications such as volleyball courts, dune removal, etc. in the park area. If this is true, NO permits for private landowner benefit should be issued in the park boundary.

The raking process should e closely monitored, dune habitats should be protected, especially in high water years where the dune protects the private landowners behind it. Protection of the dune system will also reduce the amount of disaster relief claims made, should there be hurricane type storms in the high water years (wave uprush is already impacting properties along the beach).

NO land in the park should be sold off. The park will only suffer from more use in the future, selling land for development purposes, etc. is short sighted and shortchanges the future citizens of this province.