The Town of Renfrew is taking a step forward on an urban park project first broached back in September.
Town staff have been in talks with the Schad Foundation, a private group focusing on nature conservation and parkland development, about ways to make use of otherwise undevelopable land between the south side of the Bonnechere River and Highway 17 by turning it into a wilderness trail.
Manager of Environmental Services Amanda Springer says a recent trek of the area with trail professionals from the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Bruce Trail Conservancy was encouraging.
Springer says most of the land is already in the hands of the town, but the working group would look to involve the community as much as possible.
Councilor Jason Legris notes that this is a unique opportunity to add recreation opportunities to land already mostly owned by the town.
The motion to form a working group to further the project did pass, but not without some doubt from Councilor Kyle Cybulski, who preferred the town work with what it already has.
The project was originally for a “provincial urban park,” but the province has since taken a step back in its commitment to the concept.
(written by Kasey Egan)
