Selling our Parkland since 2023

Something’s been bothering me about the proposed development at 791 Arundel St. I think about it every day, I wake up in the middle of the night and it’s on my mind. Why, how, and when did the decision to sell off greenspace become “a thing”?

Nobody I spoke with could understand why the City was selling greenspace. It seemed a mystery, but I know nothing a city does is a truly a mystery. There’s always some catalyst, a reason a decision’s been made. So, I spent days researching, Googling, and reading through agendas and minutes of both City Council and Committee of the Whole meetings, and EUREKA, I found it!

Councillor Kasey Etreni is just that catalyst. You see, back in 2023, she was just driving around the City and looking at maps, and realized the City was wasting tax dollars just mowing the grass on parkland with no formal trails or playgound equipment. So, she took it upon herself to write a memo dated March 6, 2023, and I’m summarizing here, stating the City has so much city-owned land, we could get rid of some it, especially land that might need operating or capital investment, like parking lots, vacant land and parkland. Yes, my fellow community members, parkland! Councillor Etreni presented her memo to Committee of the Whole on March 20, 2023 and, sadly, but not unexpectedly, all but a few Councillors went along with her idea and needless to say, our parkland has been under threat ever since.

Now, the City’s “parkland” includes parks, greenspaces, open spaces, parkettes, and even patches of trees along roads that act as a buffer beside roadways. Committee of the Whole directed Administration to go forth and prepare a report of city-owned lands, including parkland, that are available for surplus and sale, as well as recommending which ones give the best bang for the almighty buck.

City Administration prepared that report and delivered it to Committee of the Whole on September 18, 2023 in a closed session (aka behind closed doors/no public allowed). I’ve asked for a copy of that report, but it won’t be provided. It’s confidential you know, just for Council. Why should a bunch of pesky Thunder Bay residents get to see what our elected officials have been up to behind closed doors?

That folks, is the reason why our greenspace on Arundel is up for sale. You know, the greenspace that’s actually NOT mowed by the City, that has a fully maintained multi-use trail that’s heavily used by residents throughout the city. I wonder what other parkland is on that surplus list…maybe a park, open space, greenspace, or parkette in a neighbourhood near you!

Check out these links for more information and history on attempts to sell parkland…

• Councillor Etreni’s Memorandum
• Committee of the Whole Meeting Video – March 20, 2023
  • Fast forward to Councillor Etreni’s remarks at 14:43
  • Councillor Foulds remarks at 43:04 to 45:00, and 1:04:40
  • Mayor Boshcoff’s remarks at 52:37
• TBNewswatch Article March 20, 2023 – Council looks to city-owned lands for infill
• TBNewswatch Article October 30, 2017 – City votes to keep pair of neighbourhood parkettes