Waterfront parkland plan a guide, not ‘gospel’: Orillia councillor

The ink was barely dry on a design plan for local waterfront parklands when city councillors found themselves cautioning Orillians that nothing in the document was absolute.

“We have to remember that this park is a park for all Orillians, and we want it to remain as such,” Coun. Pat Hehn said.

Council has now formally supported in principle a consultant’s design study for an area that includes Couchiching Beach Park and Centennial Park.

Within it are recommended measures that are causing concern among some residents, most notably a suggestion to close off Terry Fox Circle to traffic as part of a broader effort to make the area more pedestrian-focused.

Council would be wise to seek public input on individual components of the plan as they are brought forward for consideration, Coun. Rob Kloostra said.

“I think we need to do a lot more,” he added.

Lifelong resident Wally Clark told Simcoe.com he enjoyed cruising around Terry Fox Circle in his truck, but wouldn’t oppose its closure so long as adequate parking was available nearby.

“Having more room in here (for pedestrians) would help,” he said.

Coun. Tim Lauer did not support approving the plan in principle, arguing that it sets in motion a process that will see staff craft budgets as part of a 10-year capital plan and prioritize projects.

“I think it’s a little premature to be approving this in principle and just assuming that it doesn’t mean anything,” Lauer said.

Hehn suggested adding a preamble to the plan, acknowledging that aspects of it may be changed as current and future councils consider individual projects.

“People don’t realize that it can be changed and they take it as gospel,” Hehn said.

Council decided a preamble was redundant as the consultant’s recommendations were just that.

Accepting the plan in principle “does not commit us to do anything that is in the report,” Coun. Ted Emond said.

“It lays out a model for the future,” he added.

Council will decide whether to support individual components of the plan as they are brought forward by staff at budget meetings in the intervening years, Emond said.