I'm glad to see this…

I'm glad to see this dedicated park initiative. Setting aside more protected land can only be a good thing.

As far as usage, I think the best option would be to treat it as a nature preserve, e.g. a "non-operating" Provincial Park similar to Egan Chutes Provincial Park, which I visited this year. That would serve conservation purposes and tie in consistently with the existing neighbouring natural areas.

The area is already well served by an extensive trail network which is well supported by an active, committed volunteer community. I don't see any need to introduce additional amenities by Ontario Parks. In fact, it strikes me as more of a imposition and a diminishing of what has been accomplished. I say that as a volunteer myself (with the Oak Ridges Trail Association) leading hikes in the area, and hiking the nearby trails on my own at least once a week. Over time hopefully adjacent properties can be set aside to provide a continuous trail network up from North Walker Woods into Timber Tract and the Countryside Preserve. Also, I don't see the point of introducing picnic areas, washrooms and other amenities when Elgin Park in Uxbridge provides all of that and is just minutes away.

As far as naming, the "Urban" in the proposed "Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park" strikes me as both ludicrous and blatantly political. Urban? Uxbridge? Uxbridge, the Trail Capital of Cananda? Are you serious? I've hear some lame rationalization that it would be a northern continuation of the Rouge National Urban Park hence "urban", but the contexts are completely different. Honestly, this reeks of blatant politicization from a provincial government determined to develop over the Greenbelt, with the implication of turning the moraine area around Uxbridge into an urban area. Remember the timing. Thankfully, the government backed off on Greenbelt development. I hope we can back off on the "urban" in the park name. Please, ditch it!

Finally, access. I strongly feel there should be no fees involved in accessing the park trails. Again, I think Egan Chutes is a good model. In an increasingly virtual society I see the need for being in natural spaces is greater than ever. Uxbridge introduced parking fees in 2022 and the impact couldn't have been clearer. I've hiked and cross country skied many of those trails recreationally over the 25 years I've lived nearby in Stouffville. As an anecdote, the year before the fees my son and I went x-c skiing in Durham Forest on a Saturday after a good snowfall and the place was packed - families, kids tobogganing, all manner of activities. On an almost identical Saturday after a good snowfall the next year with the fees in place there were just a handful of cars, no families or kids that I could see. Think about that for the next generation, for developing environmental awareness. Parking fees and "amenties" penalize/inhibit people from being in nature, and create a economic class divide. As much as I miss those trails, I refuse to hike in local areas with parking fees and will not lead hikes in areas that do.

All said, I'm glad to see the lands set aside. Over the years I'd love to see the tracts connected with neighbouring neighbouring lands to form a corridor as per the Green Durham vision, perhaps with additional contributions from the provincial government, local governments, the NCC, the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust and others.