To: Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA)
Subject: Demand for Immediate Rejection of Inappropriate Development in Critical Habitat

We, the undersigned residents, environmental advocates, scientists, birders, and concerned citizens, strongly oppose the proposed construction of a disc golf course within Holiday Beach Conservation Area.

We urge the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) to exercise its legal and moral responsibility to reject/repeal this proposal.

Holiday Beach is a critically important area for migratory birds as well as wildlife, and any proposal that compromises its ecological integrity stands in direct violation of the ERCA’s mandate, which is:

“To ensure the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources in watersheds.”

This mandate is not optional. It is a binding commitment to protect vulnerable ecosystems — not promote high-impact recreation within them.

Key Reasons for Opposition-

Habitat Destruction and Disturbance:
Disc golf is not a passive activity. The increased foot traffic and noise disturbances will negatively impact migrating, breeding and nesting bird species. Discs will damage fragile understory habitat and the trunks of the mature trees that the course is designed around. It will create increased compaction of the soil and degradation of the grassy area where birds forage and nest- ultimately displacing species that rely on undisturbed forest floor, grassy areas and wetland edges. 

Threat to Internationally Significant Bird Habitat:
Holiday Beach is globally recognized as a critical staging area for migratory birds, including species at risk. Any increase in noise, disturbance, and projectiles in the environment will disrupt these migratory patterns, endanger nesting and foraging behavior, and degrade one of Ontario’s most vital avian ecosystems.

Violation of Protected Lands Principles:
Conservation areas are held in trust for ecological protection — not for active recreation that prioritizes sport over stewardship. Authorizing a disc golf course sets a dangerous precedent that could open the door to further exploitation of protected lands across Ontario.

Conflict with Public:
Holiday Beach is valued for its tranquility, biodiversity, and passive recreation — birdwatching, hiking, photography, and education. Introducing an incompatible, high-traffic sport will deter responsible use, drive away wildlife, and replace conservation with conflict.

Legal, Ethical, and Reputational Risks through Mismanagement of Conservation Lands:
Approving this project threatens ERCA’s credibility as an environmental steward, undermining decades of conservation work for the short-term convenience of a niche recreational group.

We Demand the Following:
- Immediate rejection/repeal of any proposal/approval to introduce a disc golf course or other high-impact recreation in Holiday Beach Conservation Area.

- Full transparency and public engagement in all planning processes that affect protected lands, with a science-based assessment of ecological risk as the primary decision-making factor.

- A public reaffirmation of ERCA’s core mandate to preserve the integrity of conservation lands against inappropriate development.

There are alternative locations more suited for this recreational activity that wouldn’t compromise our valued conservation area. We urge the decision-makers to reconsider and explore these options, prioritizing the environmental integrity of Holiday Beach.

This Is a Test of Leadership.
ERCA’s decision on this issue will send a clear message to the public about whether it serves the ecosystems it was created to protect — or whether it will compromise those ecosystems for convenience, sport, and pressure from interest groups.

Please join me in safeguarding Holiday Beach by signing this petition. Together, we can ensure that our conservation areas remain untouched and dedicated to the preservation of nature for future generations.