As expected, our post on Why Greenspaces and not Greens hit a nerve. We deliberately threw the topic out there, hoping for some civil debate, but knowing we would also receive some very passionate responses from the Current River Neighbourhood Group on Facebook. Brushing aside the insults and the sarcasm, the comments reflect how valued parkland is to the community, at least parkland that is used for a golf course. However, if that type of parkland usage is valued, then all other types of parkland usage should be valued too, like the greenspace on Arundel. After all, that’s also used by hundreds of residents throughout the year and highly valued by the Current River community.
The Thunder Bay Housing Land Needs Study & Strategy states we have more than enough land to serve our housing needs for years to come, and none of it is parkland. However, thanks to Councillor Etreni, the City started targeting parkland in 2023 in their quest to build housing, ignoring the Housing Land Needs Study & Strategy. The City created their own top secret list of 40 parcels, which they refuse to make public.
The surplusing of Arundel is just the first piece of parkland that’s up for grabs, what will be next? Councillor Etreni stated “…there was clearly no intent to sell off green space that’s valued by the community.” However, that’s exactly what she and her fellow Councillors did with Arundel. Over 100 people turned out at a ward meeting to oppose the sale, there were deputations, letters, phone calls to Councillors. Yet, they surplussed it in order to sell it. Do you really think they’ll stop at Arundel?