WAVE OF PROTEST SURGING AGAINST PORT ELGIN SPLASH PAD LOCATION

There is a rising tide of public sentiment opposed to the cutting of any trees and altering the natural habitat within the historic 110 year old North Shore Park located in Port Elgin. Online and paper petitions to preserve the trees and maintain the green space have surpassed 1,300 signatures from alarmed citizens, and the flood of concern shows no sign of slowing as the community realizes the location Council approved in principle must be changed. The "savenorthshorepark.org" petition is calling upon Saugeen Shores Council to keep North Shore Park in Port Elgin a green space through a three-point action plan (below). The advocacy group Friends of North Shore Park maintain, "We need to protect the existing mature trees, plant more, and preserve this unique public forest as a green space for the community.” The group also states, "Saugeen Shores Council has greatly underestimated the history, the importance, and the community passion for this peaceful, natural, treed refuge - a one-of-a-kind sanctuary you won't be able to find or recreate once the damage is done." The Friends of North Shore Park also say, "We're not against a splash pad somewhere else in the community if at budget time it is found to be fiscally responsible, but the forest location decision is contrary to public opinion and this project should not take precedence over the historic, natural setting.” "We elected council to make decisions with due diligence in everyone's best, long term interests," said the Friends, "but in our opinion they're not seeing the forest for the trees in this situation. With mature green space already disappearing along the shoreline, why their recent motion to alter the unique, forested, public park forever?" Ultimately, the Friends of North Shore Park believe a splash pad is not a significant or unique tourist draw. What should be a priority is leaving the one of a kind forest intact and preserving the remaining natural beauty and peaceful setting for generations to come. The Friends have a three-step call to action for the Saugeen Shores Council: 1. Rescind the North Shore Park location motion in principle as soon as possible, plus... 2. Proclaim with a by-law the preservation of North Shore Park as a public forest a top priority and then... 3. Begin the search for a more practical splash pad location. Friends of North Shore Park, Jody Mahon, Dave Hornsby and Paul Knechtel Please inform your neighbours of this petition: savenorthshorepark.org or have them sign one of the paper petitions circulating within the community. Paper petitions can be found at Eby’s Barber Shop in Port Elgin and at the Southampton Meat Market. For more info contact Friends of North Shore Park: paulknechteldc@gmail.com