Recreation opportunities eyed at Lake Gibson
Converting a pristine piece of property into a green campground and offering cultural Segway tours are part of a plan to enhance and link sites of interest along Lake Gibson’s corridor.
As members of the Lake Gibson Preservation Task Force Committee, city Coun. Fred Neale and Tony Vandermaas have spent years developing a plan to connect a series of heritage sites and create a prime conservation area along Thorold’s western border.
The group’s proposal calls for constructing a multi-use trail along the length of Decew Road, and if supported by Niagara Region, Thorold’s Waterworks Park may be getting a makeover.
“It’s something Tony and I have been passionate about from the very beginning,” said Neale, who recently received unanimous support from his fellow councillors recently to approach region staff about partially opening up the Decew Road park to public use.
In 2001, concern brought on by the 9/11 terrorist attack resulted in new regulations to protect public water supplies, effectively fencing in Waterworks Park.
The group wants to move the existing fence farther back from the road and closer toward the water, which would open up the park for picnics and other public uses.
Neale said the Region cuts the grass weekly, and because multiple events are held at nearby DeCew House Heritage Park and Morningstar Mill, “we could create a larger parking lot for those two places, and eventually, a campground.”
Vandermaas and the city’s tourism agent, Sue Morin, recently explored the area. They hope to offer Segway tours there in the future, as well as a naturalist type campground that would serve cyclists touring the heritage sites, Vandermass said.
Historic Beaverdams Church, Smith’s Cemetery, DeCew House Heritage Park, Griffiths House, Morningstar Mill and Short Hills Provincial Park are all located within a three-kilometre area, which geographically is “right in the middle of the region,” said Neale.
“It’s great for tourism, for history, for culture. It’s all part of the bigger proposal to create the conservation area. All four Welland canals go through it. Having the walking/cycling trail and the Bruce Trail go right through there, the Decew Parkway can create a beautiful cycling experience to the Fonthill spur and the (Greater) Niagara Circle Route.”
The Lake Gibson preservation committee was established by City of Thorold to develop the lakeside corridor into a conservation and historic area.
Neale is past chairman of the Mel Swart Conservation Park Committee, and successfully passed a motion that the area comprising the Lake Gibson corridor be named Beaverdams Decew Heritage Conservation Area.
Because the Region recently approved including the corridor in the zoned greenbelt, “it can’t be developed for housing,” said Vandermaas.
“Thorold’s going to be one of the greenest, most historical towns in Ontario.”
He said City of Welland staff is considering looping Thorold trails with the Steve Bauer Trail, and the Thorold group hopes the trails will eventually reach the Short Hills park entrance.
With its recent installation of the First Nations Peace Monument, Thorold LACAC and city staff are working to get DeCew House Heritage Park designated as a national historic site.
“It may create the potential for funding” part of the improvements, said Vandermaas.
One of the challenges is that the property is co-owned by Ontario Power Generation, City of Thorold, Niagara Region, St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. and local farmers.
Neale said the next step is to meet with Region staff to create a budget and action plan to continue the recreational path along Decew and Beaverdams roads from the recently constructed path on Decew Road. Once the plan is prepared, the committee can discuss, with Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, public camping.