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Rockcliffe
park newsletter
SEPTEMBER
2006 NEWS FROM CITY HALL
Princess and Lisgar Roadway Rehabilitation
The major points of contention – the nature of the sidewalk, the
presence of curbs, grass verges separating a pedestrian path and
the roadway – have yet to be resolved. I am still in discussing
with the RPRA, the political options and their risks, which may
now be necessary.
Beechwood Community Design
Planning Committee, on September 12th, approved the Beechwood
Community Design Plan. There were two amendments of note. One
dealt with the controversial ‘restaurant-pavilion’ notion for
the southern tip of Stanley Park. The restaurant option was
removed. The possibility of a pavilion or a facility of some
sort was retained. It is important to remember that the City
owns the land. As such, the City has full control of the use to
be made of this land. I believe that leaving the possibility for
some imaginative proposal that would be fully compatible with
the gateway entrance to the park, adjacent to the river,
preserves a healthy flexibility. Any proposal would of course
have to meet with significant community approval as determined
by a thorough consultation process. You should also know that
currently no proposal exists to my knowledge. The second
amendment sought to preserve the existing view sightline of the
Peace Tower on parliament hill from the newly inaugurated
“Poet’s Hill Literary Heritage Site” of Beechwood Cemetery.
Poet’s Hill is the point of departure for a proposed extended
Poet’s Pathway network that will connect sites of
literary-historical importance throughout the capital. The
amendment called for a study of any height restrictions that
might be necessary along this sightline.
The City of Ottawa’s Young Natural Heritage Leader award
recipient for 2006 from Rockcliffe!
Mark Ouseley volunteered to assist in the biological
rehabilitation of a small woodland on the east side of McKay
Lake in Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa, as part of the community
requirement hours for secondary school graduation. In the
mid-1990s, the Environment Committee of Rockcliffe Park
discovered that the woodland had been invaded by two exotic
species of shrubby trees – Common and Glossy Buckthorn. In the
summer of 2004, Mark dedicated a total of 33 hours of strenuous
physical labour to help clear the area of the largest and most
fertile (berry-bearing) trees, including another exotic invasive
that he helped identify – Dog Strangling Vine. He conducted a
research project at Carleton University to determine if insects
might be used to control the problem, a research project he used
in partial fulfillment of the Duke Of Edinburgh Award (silver
level). Of his own volition, he also re-created the somewhat
overgrown trail to the back of the woodlot during this time.
Mark also spoke extensively at his school (Ashbury College)
about the need for students to be active in environmental issues
and he brought five other students out to work on the woodlot
remediation and cleanup of the shoreline of a nearby pond.
The presentation was made on August 17 at the HRSS meeting at
City Hall. I am certain that I speak for everyone when I say
“well done Mark!”
Councillor Jacques Legendre
I can be contacted by telephone at 580-2483, by fax at 580-2523
or by email at
jacques.legendre@ottawa.ca
Visit your web site at
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com
Photo: Sandy Smallwood, a member of the board of directors for
the Ontario Heritage Trust, participated in the formalities.
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