CollingwoodToday welcomes letters to the editor. They can be sent to [email protected]. Please include your full name, address and phone number for verification not publication. The following letter was submitted in response to The Town of the Blue Mountains' latest parking bylaw.
Editor,
We are writing to express our deep concern about loss of access to escarpment trails and parks resulting from action taken by the Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM).
This issue goes back to 2021, when TBM amended its parking by-laws so that access to almost all trails within its borders would have been limited by no-parking rules. There was significant public outcry at this and, in response, TBM did not implement the new bylaw i.e. it did not post “no parking” signage along the roads.
The hiking groups we manage thought the issue of access to hiking trails within TBM’s borders was resolved. We were dismayed to discover that TBM has now implemented some extreme restrictions in the form of no parking anywhere close to trails as well as exorbitant parking fees.
The trails include three of the most popular in the area: Pretty River Provincial Park, Margaret Paul side trail and Loree Forest, (where parking fees of $10/hour are now in effect). In all cases, it is the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) that maintains the trails
Without the BTC, the parks and conservation areas within TBM would not be popular or accessible. BTC does not charge to hike its trails and volunteers spend many hours maintaining them. By charging for parking, TBM has swooped in to make a profit on their generosity and community spirit. Shame!
We acknowledge that TBM has concerns about safety is some areas, but its sledgehammer approach of simply shutting off access seems shortsighted and unsustainable.
Furthermore, we believe TBM should be encouraging hiking, not only for tourism but for the good of the community. We do not believe that the public should have to pay to access any trails. This is normally one of the few activities that individuals and families at any income level can enjoy without restraint. By charging $10/hour for parking at Loree Forest, TBM has significantly reduced traffic to the park.
We strongly believe that the escarpment belongs to all Ontarians and no one municipality or entity should be able to limit access.
We are very fortunate to live in this beautiful area. Part of that beauty comes from the escarpment and the many trails and parks available to the public. A good number of these happen to be inside the borders of the Town of the Blue Mountains. We see TBM as custodians of this heritage. So, to block access to any part of it, seems to us a betrayal of trust.
Patricia Dunbar and Heather McCleary
Collingwood, ON
