Colloquially known as “the Park,” “the Bombing Range,” “the Point,” or just plain “Point Petre,” for several decades locals have enjoyed unfettered access to crown land blocks along Lake Ontario’s south shore. From Army Reserve Road at Point Petre to Charwell Point, four-wheel drive trucks, ATVs and snowmobiles are common, whether headed to a summertime swim and picnic, or for the massive drifts begging to be climbed in winter.

Last week council passed a motion asking Ontario’s Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, David Piccini, to ensure legacy recreation activities remain a staple at the new 4,000 acre Monarch Point Conservation Reserve.

Cheryl Anderson of the South Shore Joint Initiative. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

The resolution notes the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act allows for “ecologically sustainable land uses including traditional outdoor heritage activities.” It asks for terms of reference that “recognize, honour, safeguard and guarantee cultural and locally significant activities,” including “motorized trail usage to the extent such activities do not negatively affect the ecological values of the Conservation Reserve.”

The motion urges no road or trail closure or change of public use take place without public consultation.

The SSJI advocated for Conservation Reserve status for the Point Petre Provincial Wildlife Area and Ostrander Point Crown Land Block for years in order to protect the last remaining stretch of northern Lake Ontario shoreline from development. The designation will keep the reserve open for recreation while also recognizing the “amazing biodiversity of the areas and their importance to migrating birds, bats, butterflies and other wildlife that live there.”

SSJI Chair Cheryl Anderson noted this biodiversity thrives alongside the human use of the landscape in a deputation to council.

“County people and visitors have used Ostrander Point Crown Land Block and Point Petre Provincial Wildlife Area for generations for hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching, swimming, and picnicking. The roads, even though they are not maintained, are well used by motorized vehicles of all types. The South Shore Joint Initiative supports all these public uses and other responsible activities of the Conservation Reserve that do not negatively impact its amazing ecology and biological diversity.”

Councillor Phil St. Jean said the motion responded to concerns about the potential loss of legacy recreational uses on the South Shore.

“I bring forward this resolution to let our residents know that we are with them on this, that we, as a council, support the ongoing current and historical uses at Point Peter, now Monarch Point,” he said. “By supporting this resolution, council will send a strong message to the province that we want to be part of the conversation and we don’t want the province to tell us what is going to happen with lands in our community that we all cherish and where we have been spent a lot of time having fun.”

South Marysburgh Councillor John Hirsch, who also serves on the SSJI Board, seconded the motion and added that in the Environmental Registry notice used in the creation of the Conservation Reserve it was understood that “ATV use would continue.”

Ontario Parks staff  will develop the management plan through public consultation.