By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Chatham-Kent’s proposed divestment of Clearville Park is up for discussion at the Feb. 10 council meeting.
East Kent Coun. John Wright brought a notice of motion forward at the last week’s meeting, saying details of a potential sale haven’t been properly communicated to the community and residents who use the park.
Public consultation should be carried out, the councillor stressed, before any action is taken to sell as recommended in Chatham-Kent’s latest budget.
Wright said cost-recovery measures to operate the park should be examined by the municipality, as well as divestment options and partnership opportunities.
According to Wright, the Lake Erie property includes a park area, approximately 120 trailers, some permanent, some seasonal, and a woodlot estimated at between 20 to 30 acres. It’s located about a kilometre from the Clear Creek Forest Provincial Park, which is under the management of Rondeau Provincial Park. Clear Creek was purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada in order to protect rare species found in the Carolinian forest habitat that’s part of Clearville.
“We don’t sell our public parks,” Wright said following the meeting. “Why would you sell a woodlot that’s not costing anything?”
Historical records show the park area became an important meeting place starting at the time of the War of 1812, Wright said.
At the time of amalgamation in 1998, local families donated land to the park, which has some people in an uproar about the potential sale, he added.
