This is a great project…

This is a great project. Rock climbing is one of the fastest growing forms of outdoor recreation. Every new officially established climbing area helps bring new customers to local businesses, I am much more likely to spend my money in a community that accepts and welcomes me as a climber. Please look into the positive impact the climbing community has had in Slade Kentucky, a community that was struggling until steps were taken to encourage rock climbers to visit. The attached research paper shows climbers having contributed several million dollars the local businesses in Slade.

Also, we have a crowding issue at climbing areas due to limited access. The GTA is a huge population, and has a huge climbing community (I have read GTA has the most climbing gyms per capita in the world). If we do not continue to open climbing areas at the rate the sport is growing we will see increased crowding. Crowding leads to trail erosion and larger environmental impact.

This is an amazing first step, and I hope this will lead to the majority of Ontario Parks and conservation areas welcoming climbers. Having climbed in NB, NS, QC, ON, AB, BC, and also a dozen locations in the USA, and other countries around the world, I am always saddened by how far behind Ontario is with climbing access. This proposal really inspires hope for the future of the sport :)