Port Bruce. Interim Management Statement

Port Bruce Interim Management Statement

Port Bruce Interim Management Statement

August 3, 1999 This Port Bruce Provincial Park Interim Management Statement provides direction for the custodial management of the Port Bruce Provincial Park until such time as a Park Management Plan may be prepared. An Interim Management statement, by design, is primarily an internal document intended to provide short-term guidance for Ontario Parks managers and staff. The Interim Management Statement will govern all activities occurring within the park and focuses on custodial management required to protect park values and ensure public health and safety. Questions or requests for additional copies of this document should be directed to: Park Superintendent Port Burwell and Port Bruce Provincial Parks P.O. Box 9 Port Burwell, Ontario N0J 1T0 Telephone: (519) 874-4691 Facsimile: (519) 874-4104 I am pleased to approve the Port Bruce Provincial Park Interim Management Statement. Yours truly, Peter Sturdy, Manager Southwestern Zone Ontario Parks ii

1.0 INTRODUCTION Port Bruce Provincial Park is located along the north shore of Lake Erie near the mouth of Catfish Creek, Township of Malahide, County of Elgin, 15 kilometres south of Aylmer (refer to regional setting map). The surrounding community was called Catfish Harbour (Catfish Creek) for ninety years until Elgin County was partitioned from Middlesex County. The hamlet was renamed Port Bruce in 1855 in honour of James Bruce, 8 th Earl of Elgin (Lord Elgin), governor of the province of Canada from 1947-54. Approximately 200 people call Port Bruce home year round, but many more families visit there in the summertime. Originally, Port Bruce Provincial Park was a highway picnic area administered by the former Department of Highways. It was transferred to then Department of Lands and Forests (now Ministry of Natural Resources) in 1958 on the premise that swimming and picnicking were more the mandate of the latter. Initially, giving the area provincial park status was seen as the way of continuing to provide local area residents with a public beach. This 5.21 hectare park was first regulated under the Provincial Parks Act in 1974 (Ontario Regulation 451/74) and later amended in 1975 and 1980 (Ontario Regulation 131/75 and 821/80, respectively). 2.0 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES There are few significant issues facing Port Bruce Provincial Park. In many respects the park functions as municipal or regional open space, serving the needs of area residents and tourists alike. Ontario Parks and the Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to evaluate the park s contribution to, and status within, the Ontario Provincial Parks system and may explore alternative means of management and operation. A number of encroachments have been identified within the regulated park boundary. Ontario Parks will pursue satisfactory resolution of these encroachments. 3.0 CLASSIFICATION Port Bruce is classified as a recreation class provincial park in recognition of its ability to support day use recreational activities for local residents and out of town visitors. The park plays a role in meeting the local community s demand for outdoor recreational opportunities such as swimming, picnicking and informal playing areas for group activities and sports. 4.0 GOAL In keeping with Ontario Provincial Park Planning and Management Policies, the goal for Port Bruce Provincial Park will be: To provide a limited variety of outdoor recreation opportunities and to protect the park s natural and recreational environments. 5.0 OBJECTIVES 5.1 Protection Objective The protection objective will be: To protect the natural beach. The Port Bruce Provincial Park beach occupies a portion of the Lake Erie shoreline. Apart from having a good swimming beach, the park contains insufficient land base, no significant natural or historical features, and no management issues that would appear to necessarily warrant continued designation and protection under the Provincial Parks Act. The park s status may be reviewed and management and operational alternatives may be explored. 5.2 Recreation Objective The recreation objective will be: To provide Provincial Park outdoor recreation opportunities for low to moderate intensity day use. Port Bruce Provincial Park will provide opportunities for swimming, picnicking, sunbathing and playing areas for group activities and sports. 1

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6.0 BOUNDARY The boundary for the provincial park is shown on Figure 1. Of the total park area (5.21 hectares) the parcels north and south of Imperial Road (formerly Highway No. 73) make up 0.95 and 0.90 hectares, respectively. The balance of 3.36 hectares is a water boundary extending 91.44 metres offshore from the high water mark (as established by survey in August 1949). The park boundary was resurveyed in the spring of 1999, resulting in the detection of a number of encroachments. Unauthorized occupations or uses will be addressed in an appropriate manner. The range of options for resolving encroachments includes, but is not limited to: removal by occupant (including site restoration as required); short-term to long term fair market value rental or lease; fair market value disposition or land exchange; Minor park boundary amendments will be undertaken to address localized issues (e.g., access) as required. A suitable combination of posts, signs and/or hedges and trees will be used to delineate the park boundary. The park s contribution to and status within the Ontario Provincial Parks system may be reviewed. Any decision to deregulate and/or transfer ownership of the park would entail an amendment to the Aylmer District Land Use Guidelines. Partnerships and a range of other options may be explored for future management and operation of part or all of the park lands. In the implementation of the approved Interim Management Statement, Ontario Parks may pursue opportunities for partnerships involving other agencies and groups. Park development, operations and resource stewardship will be contingent upon the availability of funding and unforeseeable changes in priorities or policy. Funding may be derived from a variety of sources, including corporate sponsorships and donations. Implementation of the management plan and operation of the park will meet the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act, Provincial Parks Act and other pertinent legislation. 8.1 Natural Resources Stewardship The control of drifting beach sands may be addressed through (a) the establishment of areas of natural regeneration and/or (b) the planting of indigenous species of dune grasses and shrubs. Appropriate signs or exclosures may be installed to support either option. In conjunction with the above, one or more boardwalks or walkways may be installed to accommodate pedestrian access to and from the beach. Local partners will be permitted to plant indigenous species as per a vegetation planting plan approved by Ontario Parks. Emphasis will be placed on delineating the park boundary, restoration of natural areas (i.e., fordune), and site specific landscaping. Except for the purpose of maintenance or emergencies, vehicles will not be permitted on the beach or foredune. 8.2 Recreational Activities 7.0 ZONING Port Bruce Provincial Park will be zoned entirely as development zone. Traditional day use activities in keeping with Ontario Parks' policy will be permitted. Camping will not be permitted. A surfaced sport/play court will be permitted (refer to Proposed Development). 8.0 INTERIM MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES Unless otherwise noted, the management policies for Recreation class parks, presented in Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning and Management Policies will apply to this site. 8.3 Existing and Proposed Development Existing Existing development consists of washrooms, change house, food service concession, cottage and parking lot. A food services concession will continue to be permitted in accordance with Ontario Parks policies and procedures. 5

Proposed Ontario Parks will construct a new washroom to replace the existing, aging vault toilets. Parking lot access will be limited to two entrances/exits on the north side of Imperial Road to prevent indiscriminate parking and improve public safety. A surfaced sport/play court will be permitted in the park (see Site Plan) subject to the proponent s (a) guarantee of full external sponsorship, (b) submission of site plans acceptable to Ontario Parks, (c) agreement to maintain the court. The sport/play court may be reassessed and removed at the discretion of Ontario Parks should issues of insufficient use, public safety, vandalism and/or lack of upkeep arise. Court lighting will not be permitted. The west end of the parking lot will be restored with topsoil and grass. Landscaping projects will not include planters and benches, however, additional picnic tables may be provided as required. 8.4 Client Services No natural heritage education programs will be provided. Basic information on the park will be provided through various Ontario Parks printed media and Web site. 8.5 Research Any research will be conducted by, or authorized by, Ontario Parks. Research projects will be administered on the basis of park policy directive PM 2.45 (Research Activities in Provincial Parks) and must meet all requirements under applicable provincial and federal legislation. Approved research activities must be consistent with Ontario Parks Research and Information Strategy. 9.0 SUMMARY OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION A notice of invitation for the public to participate in a process to develop an Interim Management Statement for Port Bruce Provincial Park was printed in the May 1999 issue of the Port Bruce Newsletter. In excess of 300 copies of a Preliminary Management Plan and survey for Port Bruce Provincial Park were printed; 166 copies were direct mailed on June 8, 1999 and the balance were made available for pick up at outlets within the community of Port Bruce. An open house was scheduled for June 19, 1999 at the Port Bruce Sunday School Hall and was attended by 68 persons. The public submitted over 110 survey forms or comments from other sources. Comments were entertained over a 45-day period. All comments were taken into consideration in the preparation of the final Interim Management Statement. The approved Interim Management Statement was publicly released in early August 1999. Copies of pertinent background information and the approved Interim Management Statement will be kept on file at Port Burwell Provincial Park. 10.0 SOURCES/REFERENCES The principal references used in the preparation of this Interim Management Statement included: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Aylmer District Land Use Guidelines. Aylmer District, 1983. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Ontario Provincial Parks Planning and Management Policies. Toronto: Parks and Natural Heritage Policy Branch, 1992. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Park Policy, Procedure and Bulletin PM 11.02.01, Preparation of Interim Management Statements, Provincial Park Operations Branch, 1994. Rayburn, Alan. Place Names of Ontario. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1997. Scott, David E. Ontario Place Names. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, 1997. Southwestern Zone, Ontario Parks. Port Bruce Provincial Park Preliminary Interim Management Statement. London, 1999. 7