Dear editor:

I must admit that I’ve viewed the full page ad on page 5 of the April 9 edition of The Lake Report with some concern and some questions. First, some facts.

In 1951, the community of Niagara-on-the-Lake was not the same as it is now. Thanks to a prior provincial Progressive Conservative government, Virgil, Queenston, St. Davids, Glendale and a larger rural area were added to what is now known as Niagara-on-the-Lake. About a third of the NOTL population lives in what is commonly called Old Town.

For those of us who do not reside right there, Old Town is not on the way to anything. Except to attend Shaw performances and favourite restaurants, I seldom need to visit Old Town.

The 1,200 residents who, according to the ad, have “expressed a clear direction” represent about seven per cent of the municipal population, not an overwhelming number.

When the current library and community centre building was constructed, it was supposed to become the “community hub.” In my opinion, a second community hub not much more than a kilometre away from the first one seems excessive for a town of our size.

Perhaps council and town staff should develop a comprehensive list of the recreation infrastructure the town owns, manages or otherwise supports to determine whether these assets are widely dispersed in a way that makes at least some of them accessible to all of the population of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

This exercise might identify where additional recreational investment would be beneficial.

Kenn Moody
NOTL