Ontario is proposing to expand Charleston Lake Provincial Park by approximately 2,273 acres (about 920 hectares), which would increase the size of the park by one third.
Located directly east of the existing park, near the town of Athens, the proposed addition includes lands that are currently used for a wide variety of activities such as hiking, wildlife viewing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, biking and ATV and snowmobile travel.
Laura Lee Davies, a land-owner whose property abuts the planned expansion area is upset about the lack of public consultation during the process.
Part of the proposal contains plans to create Ontario’s first Adventure Class Park, a definition Davies says she’s failed to get definitions for, despite repeated inquiries with Park staff and Provincial officials. She and others fear that traditional hunting on the properties involved may be banned without legislative protection.
She notes the many hunting groups that use the area described as the Leeder’s Creek Wetland complex will be shut out despite their years of responsible hunting and environmental conservation.
The commenting period for this proposal ends on April 20th. Any member of the public wishing to comment can simply go to the Environmental Registry of Ontario’s website at ero.ontario.ca and entering 025-0031 in the search window.
Story by Brian Turner
