Would you donate any land to the Municipality of Kincardine, asks reader

To the Editor:

This letter is regarding the Municipality of Kincardine’s discussion at Monday’s council meeting on the future development of Dunsmoor Park, Macpherson Park and the Bluewater Trailer Park, our community and tourist destinations. Sorry, a bit long.

A little history first. Macpherson Park and the Bluewater Trailer Park were donated to the Town of Kincardine as legacies for the families who donated them and were donated with specific instructions as to their intended usage. I’m not sure of the history of Landsdowne Park, changed to Dunsmoor Park in honour of Norm Dunsmoor who conducted the Sunday Sing-a-long in the current band shelter, for many years, and was a beloved Kincardine philanthropist and community supporter. I don’t have time or room to regale his attributes and contributions to this community.

One council member, in particular, is going after all three of these sites. You can watch that on the municipality’s website.

I’m going to take them one at a time. The Bluewater Trailer Park was donated and is a family legacy. I’m not sure who they are, but I’m pretty sure they did not donate it to deepen the pockets of the municipality. This park is a family-oriented park and many of the residents are local who have moved away and return to summer at home. My best friends since elementary school live at Bluewater in summer and Florida in winter. It is quiet, friendly, clean and no different than one of those packed in subdivisions; it’s simply a neighbourhood that is seasonal.

Macpherson Park is also a family legacy. A family whose kids (Ken and Myrna) own property and live in Kincardine. Maybe they should be asked if their family would approve of moving the Dunsmoor Band Shelter into their donated park. And then what becomes of the Dunsmoor legacy at the other park when its intended purpose is relocated?

Dunsmoor Park Band Stand is another municipal asset, neglected for so long that it now has to be demolished. The first suggestion is to reconstruct it to the west, closer to the boardwalk because the new parking and path design has encroached into the park by almost half. Well, if I were to ask Saugeen Valley Conservation if I could build a new structure, mere feet from Lake Huron’s edge, I think I would get a hard no, but just watch, could be a great precedent in future for cottage owners.

The other suggestion was to move it into Macpherson Park under the pine trees by the two big poplars at the south/west side of the parking lot.

The overbuilt, under capacity washrooms were put where they are to accommodate Dunsmoor Park visitors and be more accessible for seniors and differently abled people attending this music venue.
So now, take down more trees and decrease playground space to put the essence of Dunsmoor Park into Macpherson Park. OMG.

Please rebuild both picnic shelters now, easy fix, in great demand by locals and tourists every day.

Ok, now question, Would you ever donate something to this municipality to create a family legacy after reading this?

Shirley Wright
Kincardine