In the past 40 years only one multi-acre community park has been added  to the Komoka-Kilworth area, that being the Optmist Park of Kilworth. That’s the good news.

However, no new multi-acre parks have been identified and our population continues to grow. The concept map of the proposed change shows that the Park is 28.9 acres. This includes approximately 3 to 4 acres that the park has already surrendered for the good of the community for the water tower/storage tank.  Useable park space is around 25-26 acres.

Those four acres will be sorely missed in the coming years. This proposed commercial structure of 6,975 sq meters (75,000 sq feet) sitting in the middle of the leftover park like Jabba the Hutt prevents any chance to repurpose this area to meet the future recreational needs of the Community.

Just in life, we all have to go some time. If in the distant future the Community Centre needs to come down the community will appreciate the ability to repurpose this area for new recreational and community purposes. Until then, the Komoka Community Centre will stand tall to protect the Open Space area for future generations.

Open Space zoning is not supposed to mean “waiting for future development, make me an offer”. Don’t build and pave over this green space.

If you want to read more about Urban Green Space take a look at this World Health Organization report: World Health Organization - Urban Green Space (Click for PDF).

This excerpt from the WHO report is an important message for our Municipal leaders:

“Local authorities are responsible for protecting and maintaining existing urban green spaces. Local authorities may lack the financial means to establish new or modify existing green spaces, or municipally owned land that can be devoted to public open spaces may be limited. In this situation, it is most important to protect existing urban green spaces and make them accessible to as many residents as possible.”   (Section 11,  Point 3, Page 21)