Pennant Point Trail Blazing

Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 11:44:13 -0400 (AST)
From: Martin Willison <willison@is.dal.ca>
To: sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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Two messages on Pennant Point Trail Building. 
Message from Jay Meeuwig follows:
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To: Sustainable Maritimes

At least 3 individuals, representing more than three
conservation-oriented groups, have independently raised
concerns with me about the "Trail Blazing Party" proposed
for Crystal Crescent (Pennant Point) Park, Saturday 
March 18th.

The information circulated to date by the proponents 
leaves much to be desired, and the "sustainability" of
the project is unclear.  The Crystal Crescent Beach area
has been severely over-used and abused for a long time,
and the proposed trail blazing appears to be an attempt 
to spread the abuse further into the so-called protected
area. 

The "party" has been widely advertised, and therefore 
calling it off is now impossible. In view of this, the only
thing that those who care about sustainability can do
now is to go there: enquire, watch, photograph, report,
assess, and advise. I recommend against taking equipment
to help with the "trail blazing" itself, in part because
we are close enough to mud season that large numbers of 
people should not be out messing around on wet trails. 

I have seen the trail plan, and my independent assessment 
is that it does not meet modern park trail-planning 
design standards. Of greater concern is that cumulative
impacts of the concept plan do not appear to have been
assessed at all. 
  
Martin Willison

Professor of biology and environmental studies,
Dalhousie University.

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Reply-To: "J Meeuwig" <jmeeuwig@bigfoot.com>
From:	"J Meeuwig" <jmeeuwig@attcanada.net>
Subject: URGENT!!!   CALL for ACTION
Date:	Thu, 16 Mar 2000 08:37:10 -0400

CALL for
ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TIME IS SHORT; needs to be done THURSDAY or FRIDAY at the latest!

What this message < see at the end > is about is a plan by
a local community development group < GCCDA>
to have a TRAIL BLAZING PARTY in one of our provincial parks.
< properly known, i believe, as CRYSTAL CRESCENT PROVINCIAL PARK;
but "rebaptized" by them as PENNANT POINT provincial PARK >

In our view this is HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC ;
a) trails are going to be built WHERE?
( a proper public review of any plans has never occured! )

b) what kind of supervision by qualified trail building staff
will be provided, if any?
 ( is DNR paying it's staff overtime on the weekend? )
We doubt there will be any supervision, given that:

c) at this time of year the ground is totally soggy and  soft....
certainly not ideal conditions to "work in the park",
from a damage-to-the-park point of view.

d) what are the issues of liability if a member
of the public is hurt in this project?

e) what kind of park conservation message does
TRAIL BLAZING PARTY send???

and finally
f) any and all participation by conservation NGOs in
park planning for CCPP has been systematically stymied
< a meeting on this is scheduled ten days from now
  between the CPAWS board and DNR.>

We NEED TO GET WORD to green people
< and to the Minister for DNR>, that we are
appalled; and wonder what gives in our provincial parks:
TRAIL BLAZING... ; saws ; hammers... ;=((

YOUR energy in sounding the alarm to DNR and especially
to the Minister will be in our view very helpful and necessary!

Ernest Fage is at 424-4037;  or e-mail min_dnr@gov.ns.ca
i have no number handy for the deputy minister; but the
executive director for Renewable Resources
< which includes Provincial Parks> is Ed(ward) MacAuley
He's at 424-4103; or emmacaul@gov.ns.ca

Let's work on this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jay W. Meeuwig, Chair,
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
CPAWS, Atlantic Region
(902) 868-2981

BCC: CPAWS-Board; et al

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2000 12:03:09 -0400
From: GCCDA <ay701@chebucto.ns.ca> To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: URGENT!   Pennant Point Park Project Trail Blazing Party

Pennant Point Park Trail Blazing Party!

The Greater Chebucto Community Development Association invites you to come
and participate in and learn about the trail development work at Pennant
Point Provincial Park (otherwise known as the home of Crystal Crescent
Beach).

Ø Learn the art of fine trail construction hands-on, by helping to create a
portion of  8.5 kilometers of the most spectacular coastal trail in Nova
Scotia!
Ø Learn about the park's natural resources: it's three white sand beaches,
freshwater ponds, wetlands and other unique coastal ecosystems.
Ø Learn about the park's cultural heritage (from an ancient Micmac presence
1000 years ago, to the late 18th and 19th century village of Coote Cove as
well as the amusement park that once existed on-site in the 1960's).

You will receive a certificate of appreciation for your participation and
your name will be added to a list of contributors that have given so
generously to the park's infrastructure development.

So, pack your lunch and come learn while lending a hand!

Place:  Pennant Point Provincial Park (Home of Crystal Crescent Beach)

Date:  Saturday - March 18, 2000
(Alternate date in case of bad weather:  Saturday - March  25, 2000)

Time: 9 am - 4 pm

What to bring:
Ø Back-pack,
Ø brown bag lunch,
Ø warm clothes (layers),
Ø work gloves,
Ø sturdy footwear (steel toed, if you have any),
Ø and loads of enthusiasm!

If you have a shovel, pick, hammer, saw, etc. bring them along!

It will be a day of fresh air, breath-taking scenery, experiential
learning, and FUN!

For more information or to confirm your attendance, please call Alana Paon
of the Greater Chebucto Community Development Association at: 868-1380.

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The preceding message was posted on the Sustainable Maritimes
mailing list (sust-mar).  http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/lists/sust-mar
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Sponsors: Chebucto Community Net   http://www.chebucto.ns.ca
Sierra Club - Chebucto Group http://www.sierraclub.ca
Volunteer moderator: Paul Falvo  mailto:sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca



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