Share your ideas for Huntsville's Waterfront

Hats off to Councillor Jason Fitzgerald for attempting to deal with some long standing problems at the waterfront and for his part in improvements recently accomplished. Our beach is 700 feet of beautiful sand bottom shoreline. Approximately 250 feet is reserved by buoy line, for swimmers, boat launch and dock take approximately 50 ft, and boat moorings the rest. In 2003 there was 350 feet for swimmers. 2020 saw water advisories on June 23, July 3,14, 21, 28, Aug 11 and 18. Some lasted 5 days and some 4. This was the worst summer for swimmers in my 46 years at the beach. And I believe, it was the worst beach of the 50 plus tested by the Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit and the only beach with boats moored in the water. The advisories did not impact the up to 75 watercraft moored randomly in the sandy shallow waters and contributing in part, I believe, along with waterfowl and runoff among other things, to those water advisories. Over the years I've seen and removed when abandoned, truck tires and pails filled with cement, scrap iron, boulders, augers, cement blocks and even well lids, all used to hold boats with rusted chains and rotting rope. And restricting in their own small way the natural lake current that flows gently close to the shore. I sympathize with those who claimed "their spot" 50 years ago, when laissez-faire worked, but more and more people want a "spot" and people pressure for all users of the waterfront demands control and ultimately a solution to water quality problems which sadly didn't exist 20 years ago. More and more bathers restricted by boats to a relatively small part of the waterfront could also be part of the problem. In 2005 I volunteered to join an ill-fated committee called The Port Sydney Waterfront Enhancement/Protection Committee. I was representing the Stephenson Lions who had constructed the deck on the Port Sydney hall and were ready to replace the shallow water swim docks that had deteriorated until preliminary work proved it would be too costly for the club. Others represented Port Sydney-Utterson Chamber of Commerce, Port Sydney Parks and Recreation, The Mary Lake Association and volunteer citizens. Of the 8 members, a majority were involved with boats moored at the beach. A questionnaire was circulated amongst the community and a report was written from the 145 documents received. Interestingly, prioritized areas of concern were: easily #1- WATER QUALITY, then swim safety, shade, beach condition, dock safety, removal of former shallow swim docks, size of swim areas, parking, water moorings, dock moorings, condition of boat ramp and available trailer parking. Unfortunately most of these issues remain today. Boat moorings did get acted on, with a site map of moorings and boater names and registration contained on a master list to be maintained by some committee members. It was a well intentioned attempt to organize and limit the number of moorings. However it was not sustainable and had no jurisdiction and disputes arose. Every year sees new boats attached to "new rubble" encroaching on swimming spots or actually attaching to swim buoy lines. Interestingly enough, abandoned moorings are rarely cleaned up by the installers, leaving the task to those of us who care about the beach. Imagine 75 moorings of 4 cement blocks each. Pleasant to look at above water, for some, but not under it. It's a sad statement of our stewardship of our waterfront when kids spent more than half of last summer sitting on shore looking at those watercraft bobbing on water unsafe for them to swim in. No one but our municipality has a deed to this waterfront and as stated by the Health Unit and Transport Canada when I called, it is up to the municipality to solve water quality issues. Perhaps a Conservation Authority for Muskoka, like our neighbours to the north, could help us protect our watershed. Limiting or eliminating mooring will create more traffic at the boat launch, of which there are not nearly enough throughout the district. I'm a boater also, but I don't moor. On any given day most moored boats don't move at the same time, if at all. Public access waterfront is in short supply and often jammed on the weekends. Unfortunately it will require more and more management, bylaw protection and especially enforcement as we're seeing in places like Orillia. Finding solutions for residents and visitors won't be easy, but everything possible must be done to try and stop the decline of our water quality and ensure we the ratepayers have a waterfront we can enjoy all summer long. Mother nature can't cope with uncontrolled human use, development and abuse as populations rise. Can we get back to a "zero" water advisory summer? We have to believe we can. Status quo or "leaving it like it's always been" won't get Water Advisory signs removed. Cleaning up the existing "rubble" and stopping all the dumping of "new rubble" is an important step in any waterfront remediation. For me, Port Sydney has been a remarkable place to live since 1975. I never dreamed we, the community, would be faced with unsafe conditions at the waterfront for swimmers, as we are now. Water quality is everything! We are near the top of the watershed and shouldn't expect anything less than clean water at our park, even with a rapidly growing population. Let's all get together in community to help Jason and not have to wonder whether the beach is "safe today". Our grandkids should have a chance to play in the water just like our kids. It's up to us. Please come to the drop in at the beach September 21, 3 to 7 and have your say.

Make the trail longer

Park space including skatepark & pump track, playground & splash pad

An area with a splash park and a green space for outdoor concerts, movies etc. A place for food trucks and farmers market would be great