A proposal is afoot to build a foot bridge near this scene in Milne Park to facilitate a trail along the pond where a great blue heron and ducks hang out.
Markham
November 20, 2008 08:50 PM
Keely Grasser
Some residents are hoping to derail the town’s plans to put a multi-use trail in Milne Park.
“This is a conservation area and people don’t want it touched,” explained Myra Chepack, who lives near the park and is a member of the Vinegar Hill Ratepayers Association.
She was one of more than 100 residents who attended a public meeting last month, organized by Ward 4 Councilor Carolina Moretti to update residents on the plans for the trail.
Earlier this year, the town received a $4.5-million government grant to help establish trails in the Major Mackenzie, Donald Cousens Parkway and Milne Park areas. The trails are park of Markham’s master pathways and trail plan.
Ms Moretti said at the meeting that consultants have analyzed Milne Park Conservation Area and have come up with options for a path in the park.
The four options presented varying routes, environmental impacts and cost estimates. Some require the replacement or installation of new bridges.
However, many residents at the meeting made it clear they weren’t in agreement with any of the options.
Ms Moretti said about 130 people signed in for the meeting, to which she only formally invited ratepayers in very close vicinity to the conservation area.
The first question of the night saw a ratepayer ask who in the room was in opposition to the trail. The minutes reflect that almost everyone in the room raised their hand.
Just one positive comment was recorded from one resident who feels they’ll enjoy cycling in the tranquil area.
Concerns from parking issues outside of the park to problems between pedestrian and cyclist traffic were raised.
A 400-signature petition from residents opposing the plan was also forwarded at the meeting.
The consensus is that none of the four options is favoured, Ms Chepack said.
She said she doesn’t believe the park can support both nature and paths.
That’s something with which Tupper Wheatley, a member of the Milne Park Conservation Association, agrees.
He has a number of concerns, including possible damage caused by installation of a bridge.
“I don’t really lean to any options at all,” he said. “Just leave the darn thing along and look at a bicycle path in a more appropriate area.”
Ms Moretti wants to assure residents no decision has yet been made.
“I can’t emphasize enough the word ‘options,’” she said in a follow-up interview.
She said there are misconceptions floating around in the community, including that hundreds of trees are going to be cut down and that the path will be wide and paved.
Fifth option: do nothingThere is always a “fifth” option, she said. “In the public process we have, doing nothing is an option on the table…That option is always there.”
She said there is a process the town is following.
Alan Brown, the town’s director of engineering, told residents at the meeting that public comment will be collected followed by an open house. Council will select its preferred option and then the proposal will be sent to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, who owns the land, for approval.
The town recently put out a request for proposal for a feasibilty study and the design of a 75-metre pedestrian foot bridge in Milne Park, related to one of the four options for the trail system.
The deadline date was Nov. 7.
It has not yet been awarded.
Mr. Brown stressed the town currently has no preferred option and is only at the feasibility stage.
Ms Moretti said the town needed to put out that request for proposal to have proper cost estimates to proceed with the process.
The Toronto Region Conservation Authority will be involved along the way.
Ron Dewell, the authority’s manager of conservation land and properties, attended Ms Moretti’s public meeting.
“I was surprised at the amount of opposition to the proposal,” he said. “Typically, communities look at trails as an asset.”
The conservation authority took part in developing Markham’s master trail plan, he said, and staff is currently looking at the Milne Park options both from a landowner and environmental standpoint, he said.
Mr. Dewell added the authority will try to balance community input with the outcome of their technical review.
Ms Moretti has had the trail options, minutes from the community meeting and a comment form posted on the town’s website, markham.ca.
She encourages feedback.
“It’s a public process we’re taking. It’s not a done deal,” she reiterated.