Letters to the Editor...Town should realize Willow Park is unique

Dear editor, I am writing to object to the way the Town of Halton Hills has treated the Willow Park Ecology Centre Steering Committee (WPSC) as reported in the article "Mandate changes for Ecology Centre" on February 9. Since it was formed in 1996, the steering committee has functioned very well as a partnership of the Town, Credit Valley Conservation and numerous community organizations. It has received monies from the Town, generous support from the Halton area community as well as 11 grants from nine different funding bodies totaling well over $300,000. These funds built the Centre and generated educational programs. As a collaborative, the WPSC has carried out its mandate very successfully, winning numerous national and regional awards by "providing a focus for ecological based education and recreation in the Town of Halton Hills" (WPEC Master Plan, May 1999). I find it very disconcerting to read that the Town of Halton Hills puts the WPEC on the same basis as all the other park facilities in Town. It is definitely NOT the same as other passive parks. It's a unique gem which needs to be recognized as such. Valuable school programs, summer camps and community events, run by the WPSC, function to inform and enlighten folks both locally and regionally. Especially in this age of emerging awareness about environmental issues such as climate change, the Town needs to increase its support for this facility. They need to find a way to step forward in terms of finances and energy to support WPEC's objectives which are timely in today's world. Our citizenry, young and old, will need to become increasingly aware of how to live more sustainability on this planet. Collectively, we have a moral responsibility to lead in the coming environmental revolution, not cut back on such a valuable award-winning community resource.