1.1 Boundary Proposing to…

1.1 Boundary
Proposing to add 18 hectares of acquired land to the park to protect representative features of the Niagara Escarpment and provide a limited variety of compatible forms and levels of outdoor recreation.

Comment: The Township of Clearview supports adding additional lands to the Park but encourages the Province to support and adhere to the Township’s property standards requirements under its Property Standards By-law especially if the intent is to provide levels of outdoor recreation encouraging the public to use these lands.

The Township also encourages Ontario Parks to adequately monitor and manage the Park using park staff resources, to regulate such items as waste management, illegal camping, illegal fires, etc. Currently there is no onsite staffing and with increased usage of the Park, it's imperative that there is active monitoring of the area to mitigate issues.

In addition, the Township encourages the Province to continue exploring purchasing additional properties in the area to add to the boundaries of the Management Plan to reduce the risk of crossing private property.

Township Staff have identified that a typo in the Plan has occurred in the second line of the boundary paragraph. It should state ‘north of Nottawasaga Sideroad 17/18’, not ‘north of Nottawasaga Sideroad 17’.

3.2 Objectives
Under the ‘Recreation’ heading there is a proposed change to formally include rock climbing as a use.

Comment: The Township of Clearview supports the addition of this use, however, there should be a slope study through the Niagara Escarpment Commission to analyze the safety and stability of the rock face of the Escarpment for rock climbing.

The Township also requests that the Ministry considers an additional study be undertaken to assess how adding this use will impact the increased usage of the park, and whether the park can support the addition of another type of user. The park is a popular destination and sufficient parking facilities to accommodate all users should be provided on park lands.

6.1 Development zone
Proposed policy change regarding minor parking lot expansion.

Comment: The Township of Clearview supports an expansion to the current parking lot but requests that the development of a new parking lot in the proposed development zone be made a short-term priority, rather than a long-term priority as identified under Section 12 of the Plan. With the addition of rock climbing as a permitted use, and the increase interest in hiking in this area of the Bruce Trail, the Township has concerns regarding the public using Concession 10 South Nottawasaga on both the east and west sides of the road as parking for their recreational activities while using the Devil’s Glen Park. Concession 10 South Nottawasaga is a busy road for travelers and the additional parking on the shoulders of the road pose safety risks. Rock climbers already use the Park for their recreational activity, and the Township has received complaints regarding parking. Some measures have been taken to alleviate parking issues such as installing ‘no parking’ signs in specific areas of Concession 10, but unfortunately this has been unsuccessful. This is a real safety concern, and one that could be solved by providing sufficient parking on park lands to accommodate larger amounts of Park users. A needs assessment study should be undertaken to determine where users are coming from, duration of stay, purpose of visit and user requirements, including a justification for parking demand.

8.2 Recreation management
Rock climbing: policy added to the plan to state that rock climbing may be permitted in areas designated by the park superintendent.

Comment: Township Staff support the addition of rock climbing as a permitted use in this park. Township Staff have concerns for safety as it relates to the parking of users on nearby road shoulders. Road shoulders are not designed or designated for extended parking of vehicles and poses safety risks. As mentioned above in an earlier comment, a slope study should be undertaken to determine the safety of the escarpment for rock climbing as a permitted use.