Rouge Valley gets $144 million to become Canada’s first national park in a city
As the federal government promised nearly a year ago, a massive stretch of the Rouge Valley will become Canada’s first urban national park, with the help of $144 million in federal funding. The government will mete the money out over the next decade to create Rouge National Urban Park, a 47-square-kilometre green space bordered by Lake Ontario, Toronto, Markham and Pickering. The exact boundaries of the park haven’t been decided yet, but so far the proposed space is about 15 times larger than Central Park and within easy reach of seven million Canadians—a fifth of the country. At an announcement today, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said the government will seek consultation from the public and hopes the space will be a “people’s park” (which is convenient, since some parkgoers will soon be taking the “people’s highway” to get there). [Globe and Mail]
Downsview Park was called Canada’s first national urban park, back in 1999 http://www.toronto.com/article/684939
What is lacking is some indication of what “national urban park” is supposed to MEAN for people. How many of us have changed our approach to, interaction with or care about Downsview Park since it became a national urban park?
How should our relationship to Rouge Valley change as a result of this status promotion?
As long as it remains ambiguous and ill-defined, it’ll be tough to see people caring one way or another, which prompts my last question – is there value in dropping $144 million on something that so few understand or care about?
And, don’t misunderstand. I enjoy Rouge Valley. I’ve gone geo-caching and hope to canoe through it soon. But, I don’t understand how $144 million will change my canoeing plans or my next geo-caching hike with the kids. Can anyone help me out with this?
Anyone?
Bueller?