Audrey Milligan Pond could be getting a makeover.
Barrie councillors gave initial approval Monday night to have staff investigate designating it as a city park and giving it trails, signs and benches, then report back to the city building committee.
Located near the corner of Perry and Innisfil streets, Audrey Milligan Pond is also occupied by some of Barrie’s homeless people.
Coun. Keenan Aylwin, who represents this part of the city, said the area is badly in need of help.
“I would challenge anyone to find an area’s that as problematic as Milligan’s Pond,” he said. “It’s shocking, actually, walking through there, the state of that natural area and it does need some love.”
Coun. Robert Thomson asked Aylwin if there might not be another reason to turn it into a park.
“(I'm) wondering indirectly if you’re trying to alleviate the issues that are occurring at Milligan’s Pond on an ongoing basis,” Thomson said.
“More movement in the park, more amenities, more people travelling would probably alleviate the encampments from occurring there," Thomson added. "Is that the reasoning behind this?"
But Aylwin described an under-utilized area with discarded needles and garbage that could be beautiful if cleaned up.
“I spent three hours on the weekend with some people in the community cleaning up, pulling things out of the water or out of the forest and it’s frankly a mess,” he said. “I think we could actually solve quite a few issues if we gave this area the love and attention that other parks in our community receive.
“I think we can address some of the safety issues if we have more defined pathways and better access points, signage, then (address) some of the garbage issues if we had garbage cans, with regular pickup. Just creating a more welcoming environment so everyone can enjoy the space,” Aylwin added.
Both Mayor Jeff Lehman and Coun. Clare Riepma mentioned the motion, which will go to city council April 12 for final approval, just seeks an investigation, not action at this point.
“All it does is ask for a report from staff to give us some ideas, to see what can be done there,” Riepma said. “I don’t think it’s committing us to anything. It is city property. We’re not talking about whether we’re going to have camping there or not have camping there.”
But Coun. Jim Harris said the human element must also be considered.
“Given that this park has probably been used more so by… our marginalized citizens, have you spoken to them about the plans to change an area where they’re probably the most significant user and what they might say about this?” he asked Aylwin. “How would you approach an encampment at a new, more refined, and clean and trailed and benched Milligan’s Pond?”
“Obviously, I’ve not had the chance to talk to every single person who lives there,” Aylwin said. “People come and go, so it’s not always easy to track everyone down, but people were especially excited about the idea of having garbage cans they can use so that the mess doesn’t pile up and they would love this space to be used by families. I heard from some of the neighbours that people who have been living in the pond are always very respectful and it’s more the issue of the mess that’s the big problem.
“We need to keep our eye on the prize, which is getting everyone safe, secure, dignified housing. I don’t think anyone should be in a situation where they are camping outside, living rough. I think everyone deserves a safe, dignified place to call home. We always need to keep that in our sights,” he added.
“But in terms of approaching encampments, we have bylaws that govern that and our enforcement services do what they do and we don’t direct them. So it’s up to them," Aylwin said.
Coun. Sergio Morales reminded councillors there are many unfinished parks in Barrie which also need attention.
“We don’t have the money, as it is, to fix up our finish unfinished (other) parks already in our city,” he said. “Let’s take care of the ones we have and add to that when we can handle what we have.”
The Ward 9 councillor also questioned whether having more people visit Audrey Milligan Pond is the answer.
“We’re going to take a pond that has, over the decades, got so much pollution that the swans no longer live there… and now we want to make it a park. Do we see that logic?” Morales said. “If we want to almost rehabilitate that pond, clean it up… designating it as a park officially, legitimizing it… saying bring your children, bring yourself… we know there are ready people there… is counter-intuitive to the rehabilitation of that park.”
“This is a growing area," Aylwin said. "People in the Brock Park neighbourhood have complained about a lack of green space. There’s a case to be built to have some more green space in the area and I think this is a perfect location do that.”
City council has approved a proposed supportive modular housing project on nearby Vespra Street, on the old fire hall site, which carries a $3-million cost.
