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Ken Reid Conservation neighbours launch petition over disc golf project

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, 2022-11-22 11:04:29,

Ray Denure has launched a petition regarding the creation of a disc golf course at the Ken Reid Conservation Area taking issue with Kawartha Conservation for not consulting area residents and supporters of the agency before firing up their chainsaws.

When Ray and Judy Denure heard chainsaws at the Ken Reid Conservation Area near their home, they figured it was just some typical property maintenance.

They were surprised — and more than a little concerned — to learn the effort was to make way for a disc golf course.

“We had no idea it was happening. We don’t think cutting down trees is the right move … and it would have been nice to at least be notified that this was a project they were interested in pursuing,” said Ray.

Denure pointed out that conservation lands are not like personally owned lands because there are so many other people who aren’t owners yet are fully vested in what happens on the property.

“A consultation process might have helped those who are interested in conservation see why cutting the trees for alternative use is a good idea, or perhaps the process might have helped staff see that moving the course to another place on the property would have been better.”

Judy also pointed out that when the couple wanted to construct a small building on their property, they had to obtain a special variance from the municipality and pay a fee to the conservation authority.

“What they’re constructing seems to be much larger than what was proposed … and I don’t believe the environmental assessment was extensive enough,” added Judy.

Kawartha Conservation director of stewardship and conservation lands Kristie Virgoe said the project stems from a public consultation process held in 2019. With the endorsement of its board, staff successfully applied for funding from the federal Tourism Relief Fund and RTO8. The course is expected to be completed by the end of December.

Virgoe explained the area being developed is a “transitional meadow” — the conservation area was primarily used as livestock pasture before being purchased in 1981 — and the project will have no “significant impact.” The agency also hired a third-party consulting firm to conduct an environmental assessment.

“We’re not cutting down any trees on the escarpment,” said Virgoe, adding trees are a part of the allure of disc golf. “In fact, 90 per cent of what is being removed is invasive Buckthorn. So it’s actually a positive.”

Although Virgoe appreciates the Denures strong connection to the Ken Reid — she and general manager Mark Marjowski recently met with the couple to address their concerns — it’s not the agency’s practice to consult with area residents on proposed projects….

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Courses

Kawartha Conservation adding disc golf course to Ken Reid Conservation Area in Lindsay

, 2022-11-03 13:05:52,

As part of its four-year strategic plan, Kawartha Conservation is adding a new four-season, nine-hole disk golf course to Ken Reid park near Lindsay.

One of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activities is coming to the Ken Reid Conservation Area — a nine-hole disc golf course.

“When we started having conversations about Ken Reid and our conservation areas, it quickly became apparent that our local demographics were changing and regionally, peoples’ interests were changing,” explained director of stewardship and conservation authority lands Kristie Virgoe. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we saw a significant increase in visitors to our conservation areas, and as things have started to return to a more pre-pandemic normal, we wanted to look at ways to keep those individuals engaged and visiting our green spaces.”

The course, expected to open before the end of the year, connects to the agency’s evolving focus on engaged communities that “love, respect and appreciate our natural environment.”

“Those words mean something, and they mean something different to everyone,” said Virgoe. “We have a lot of visitors who enjoy the quiet and solitude or visiting the trails or the lookout, we have people who enjoy the off-leash dog park, or bringing their binoculars for birdwatching, school groups who learn about bugs and trees and climate, or people who love to walk, bike, hike or just sit and read a book … Being able to introduce people to nature in a way that is relevant to them and connects with them is critical, and that is how we decided upon the introduction of a nine-hole disc golf course.”

The Ken Reid disc golf course will be a four-season attraction that can be used for tournaments or for individual play. Designed by Fluent Disc Sport, the course will be integrated into parts of Ken Reid’s escarpment loop and grasslands area.

“With common goals like ‘Nature for All’ and the protection, preservation, and promotion of our natural resources, conservation areas and provincial parks can be ideal homes for disc golf courses,” explained Fluent disk sport designer Kevin Farley.

Although similar to traditional golf, it doesn’t need any of the things that play the biggest role in its environmental footprint, notes Farley. Rather, disc golf prefers landscapes that conservation areas and provincial parks try to promote, healthy natural surroundings.

As an added feature, each hole will provide information on a local bird species and connect golfers to the more than 170 species of birds that visit or live at Ken Reid.

For more information visit www.kawarthaconservation.com.

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