www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday October 21, 2006 - 3 BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER JUST DUCKY: A pair of ducks swim on a pond which now lies in the province's newest conservation park on 650 acres of land in north Oakville. Oakville residents asked to name new conservation park By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Province hands over 650 acres to Conservation Halton less work" to protect the greenspace, which includes hills, forests, creeks and wetlands. "The new park will create an environmental legacy in Oakville," said Penman, who also noted it will form an east-west corridor linking the Niagara Escarpment with the Greater Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt. Mayor Ann Mulvale, Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh and councillors Renee Sandelowsky, Allan Elgar and Tom Adams were also on hand for yesterday's announcement, which included participation from a handful of Captain R. Wilson students, who planted some of the park's first trees and gave environmental demonstrations. This was all part of Conservation Halton's 50th anniversary celebrations, and the land, Penman said, was "a wonderful gift" to commemorate 50 years. As for what's planned for the new conservation area, that will be a major topic of discussion for Conservation Halton in 2007. "We'll have to make a master plan, which will look at all the details security measures, what parts of the environment will be off limits, what parts can be shared, trails and things like that," said Penman, adding that many voices, including those of the community, biologists and ecologists, will be involved in developing the master plan. "It's very much a joint adventure," Penman continued, adding that the Province will assist Conservation Halton in maintaining the lands. The new partnership between the Ontario government and Conservation Halton, Oakville will be home to another conservation area thanks to 650 acres of greenspace the Ontario government officially handed over to Conservation Halton yesterday. The area bound by Dundas St. W., Highway 407, Regional Rd. 25 and the Sixteen Mile Creek ravine in a region known as the Oakville Land Assembly needs a name, which is where Oakville residents and students will come in. A community-wide contest is now underway to see who can come up with the best name for the parkland, to reflect both its uniqueness and value to the town. "Tapping into our community to name the park was a natural decision to get residents involved in this wonderful conservation area that will serve Oakville families for years to come," Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn told more than 50 people gathered on the site yesterday. In Nov. 2004, Flynn announced on behalf of Premier Dalton McGuinty that these 650 acres plus an additional 168 acres to be added to Bronte Creek Provincial Park would be protected. Yesterday, on behalf of Minister of Public Infrastructure and Renewal David Caplan, Flynn announced the government's decision to "pass stewardship" of those 650 acres to Conservation Halton. "We know that this is the best way, with the track record that Conservation Halton has, to leave this precious legacy to those who follow," he said. "This is a golden moment for Conservation Halton." That thought was echoed by the organization's chair, Brian Penman, who thanked community organizations, the Ontario government and Flynn specifically, for his "tire- PARKLAND: Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn announces the new as-yet-unnamed- conservation park in north Oakville at a press conference Friday. Flynn said, is part of the government's quest to create a permanent greenbelt around the Greater Golden Horseshoe. "I'm proud to be part of a government that really takes sustainable development seriously," he said, noting that 1.8 million acres of greenspace has been protected in Ontario's Greenbelt. "When you think about the past and present announcements, along with the creation of Ontario's greenbelt, you can't help but realize how active we've been as a government in the protection of our invaluable natural heritage." It's something Flynn says is also evident in the community more people are starting to care about the environment. "I used to joke that you could always spot the environmentalists. It would be the guy with the hair half way down his back, the hemp shirt, the John Lennon glasses," he said, smiling. "That's changed now, you can't spot that person anymore. Now it's anyone soccer moms, bankers, lawyers, old and young people." The Name the Park contest runs until Nov. 30 and a winner will be selected by Conservation Halton's 50th Anniversary Steering Committee and MPP Flynn, and announced in mid-December. One of two grand prizes a free education tour program at the Mountsberg Discovery Centre or a park prize package including one annual pass to Conservation Halton parks and one season pass to the Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard centre will be awarded to the winner. MPP Flynn is also offering the winner a tour of Queen's Park and a lunch at the Legislature. For more on the Name the Park Contest, visit www.conservationhalton.ca -- Krissie Rutherford can be reached at krutherford@oakvillebeaver.com · Wood & Vinyl Shutters, Supplied & Installed · High Quality at Affordable Prices · Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed · Serving Oakville with Shop at Home Service Authorized Vinylbilt Dealer www.shuttersetc.ca Shop at Home Service FREE