​Huron-Kinloss following Kincardine, with grandiose, high-priced park upgrades, says reader

To the Editor:
RE: “Huron-Kinloss unveils Parks and Trails Plan”

I recently had the opportunity to review the abbreviated report on park development in Huron-Kinloss Township, and based on the limited 22 pages available, out of the full 120-page document, I am concerned about the direction the township is taking.

It seems as if Huron-Kinloss is following in the footsteps of Kincardine by engaging a consultant to propose grandiose, high-priced ideas for park upgrades — ideas that may not align with the real needs of the community.

This is the same consulting firm that recommended a controversial redesign of Victoria Park in Kincardine, a plan that, in my opinion, risks losing the essence of the park. From my perspective, it seems that the consultant, despite claiming to have listened to citizens, is out of touch with what people actually want or need.

The proposals for Huron-Kinloss parks, such as the projected $300,000 upgrade to Heritage Park and more than $100,000 for Huronville Park (which the report suggests could be sold for housing development), seem excessive and disconnected from reality. Further, the suggestion to build a multi-purpose commercial structure in Kin-Bruce Park raises further questions.

The report also seems to be focused on hiring a landscape architect for many of its proposals — indicating that the consultant may already have a preferred candidate in mind. This gives the impression that the township is being steered toward specific outcomes that may not be in the best interests of its residents.

While it’s clear that Huron-Kinloss parkland needs improvement, I fear this plan is overly ambitious, costly, and may have been put together at a high price for the township — just like the similar reports seen in Kincardine.

Ultimately, it feels as though the real needs of the community are being overshadowed by a consultant’s vision that might not reflect what residents actually want. It’s time to reconsider whether these expensive, consultant-driven plans are truly in the best interest of our parks and our community.

Robert Moore
Huron-Kinloss Township