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Community residents fighting to preserve right to use Laurie Park

Grand Lake (D2N) – Approximately 75 people showed up for a meeting held Jan. 14 at the Grand Lake Community Centre. The Public Information Meeting was held to discuss the proposed plan to revamp Laurie Park; re-development of the provincial park is expected to begin in early 2010.

According to a number of people who attended the information session, during the meeting it was revealed that the NS Department of Natural Resources – the administrators of the provincial parks program – were given $5M in stimulus funds to upgrade Parks – Laurie Park was designated as one of the parks up for re-development. People who attended the meeting say the staff on hand provided a good overview of the park and highlighted their key objectives in re-development plans for Laurie Park, and there were several poster-size visual plans on display that outlined the development plans for the park.

There appeared to be general consensus among residents attending the information session, that upgrading the facilities and parking facilities, and modernizing the park and bringing it up to some level of standard, was a welcomed initiative.

Unfortunately, that is where the good news ends, says one group of concerned residents. The upset citizens say when planners drew up their plans for an Amphitheatre, restricted access to the coastline, increased RV and trailer sites, and limited tenting area, they also included NO DAY USE ACCESS in their proposal. What that actually means, says the group, is that non campers will no longer be able to take their children for a walk, walk their pet, or just go for a stroll and have a sit by the lake in the park during the summer months.

“Apparently, use of the park by local residents wasn’t a consideration in the current re-development plans,” said one member of the group who is trying to stop the re-development of the park as planned, based upon the plans presently proposed.

“We understand there will be no access to Laurie Park if you don’t have an RV, trailer, or tent, and if you don’t pay the money.”

In October, District 2 News spoke with the Director of Parks for the Department of Natural Resources, Harold Carroll, who confirmed Laurie Park was one of four Nova Scotia parks approved for work (Article Here). “It is going to be re-developed in its entirety,” said Carroll at that time. He explained the park had to be brought up to today’s standards so it could accommodate the current equipment being used by campers.

According to residents who attended the Jan.14 information session, the news that Laurie Park will not be accessible to locals for picnics or walks during the summer months, was not well received by most people who were at the meeting.

“I have been a resident in the Fletcher’s Lake/Wellington area for 40 years and our family has grown up using Laurie Park for walking, swimming, biking, picnicking, birthday parties, family gatherings,” said Cindy Patriquin.  “My children swim at Big Head every summer.  This is their favourite place to go swimming.  We do have access to Lake Fletcher and do boat on this lake, but most of the time Karly, Blaine, and Chad will go with friends to Laurie Park to jump off Big Head and go swimming.  It is a tradition every spring to see who will be the first to jump off Big Head.”

Patriquin said the news about the park has upset her son and many of his friends.  “Chad, 18, is our youngest, and he was very upset to hear that they may not have access to Laurie Park for swimming.  I know he will be on Facebook and will get his friends involved in Saving Laurie Park!”

Patriquin said the park holds a lot of memories for her family. “When Darrell and I were dating we spent lots of time at Laurie Park, swimming, jumping off Big Head, and waxing either his Road Runner or my Camaro.”

Patriquin said she hopes those who are responsible for making the proposed changes will listen to what local residents and regular park users have to say before taking any official steps, before they begin to cut down the trees and remodel the park. “There are endless memories connected to such a great park,” she said, “it would be a terrible thing for our family and hundreds of other families not to have access to Laurie Park.”

Upset residents say they have been advised by the folks on hand at the meeting (MLA Percy Paris, HRM Councillor Barry Dalrymple) and the NS Dept. of Natural Resources staff, that if people want to try to save their park, everyone must submit their comments and concerns in writing by Jan. 22.

Local seniors have also expressed sadness over the possibility of losing the simple pleasures they now enjoy at Laurie Park. “They told us we will still have Oakfield Park to use during the summer months,” said Fletcher’s Lake resident Judy Jones, but according to seniors there are a number of problems with that suggestion. Many of the over 65 crowd expressed their concerns, saying they are unable to walk the longer distance that would be required of them if they had to use Oakfield Park. “At Laurie Park, they can drive in, all the way to the lake if need be. To get close enough to sit by the lake at the Oakfield Park requires a person to walk a much longer distance,” said Jones. “And the terrain that a person has to walk over to get to the lake via Oakfield Park is a lot more difficult to walk on than the paved roadways at Laurie Park. There, seniors can drive in, park beside the water, and enjoy a picnic, the beauty of the lake and the surrounding trees, without having to struggle to get there and with a lesser chance they will fall.”

“I think it is great that they want to upgrade the park,” said Patriquin, “but do it so the community has access to the paved trails and swimming.  I do not agree with making it available for campers only.  That is not what the park is for.  Washroom facilities, a canteen, upgrading the camping area so trailers can get access would be nice, but do not take over the walking trails and the great swimming on Grand Lake.” Patriquin had a suggestion for Oakfield Park.  “Take the rest of the money and make Oakfield Park a campers delight,” she said.

Any residents interested in seeing Laurie Park remain accessible to the local public during the summer months are encouraged to write their concerns in an email and send it to their local politicians (contact information here), and to the Department of Natural Resources.

Curran said she does not understand the logic behind the current plan being proposed for the local provincial park. “Laurie Park has an approximately 40% occupancy rate for campers; the majority of these campers are from elsewhere,” said Curran.  “Why take the gem of this area from the people who use it most, to facilitate those from away who could easily travel a few miles further down the road and camp at Shubie Park?  Or go to Dollar Lake with their 119 woodland campsites?  40% occupancy rate for three months of the year, as opposed to perpetual use for 365 days a year of residents?  Is this the best use of several million dollars of tax payer’s money?”

“Politicians come and go, but residents are the heart of our Community,” said Patriquin. “It is time to start opening our eyes and ears to keep what is ours!  We need to get proactive.  Health and Promotion are trying to encourage us to get out and be active!  Here the government is, taking away a place where there are constantly people walking, skiing, skateboarding, roller blading, biking, and SWIMMING!”

“Your assistance is NEEDED,” says the group – Friends of Laurie Park. “The 65 acres for Laurie Park was donated for the use of residents throughout the local community — we need to ensure it remains accessible for OUR COMMUNITY.”

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