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The Friends of Hidden Valley have been working since 2004 to try and preserve the Hidden Valley ESPA 27 as extended to the 1976 boundaries, the three Provincially significant wetlands and the open meadow areas. We believe the Growth Stategy proposal to expand Kitchener by 100,000 people in the next 20 years demands visionary planning and an action plan to expand the Kitchener park system to keep pace with this 50% population growth. Using the figures presented in the 2010 Park Master Plan, it is clear the Kitchener park system must be expanded at a rate of about 65 acres per year for a total of 1300 acres before 2031 so the current ratio of 1.64 acres of park land per 100 residents is maintained. How does Hidden Valley fit into this plan? The entire Hidden Valley property, including the forested ESPA, the wetlands and the open meadows, is appoximately 200 acres. The addition of Hidden Valley to the Kitchener park system would kick start the action plan mentioned above and provide the following benefits: 1. Hidden Valley would provide a 200 acre park that would be accessible by the new LRT public transit. Eventually over 100,000 people will live along the central core of the three cities in Waterloo Region and a new public park will be essential. 2. Although not as large as either High Park in Toronto or Stanley Park in Vancouver, the Hidden Valley park would provide similar benefits including cleaner air from the forested area and protection of the Region's water supply-- benefits that would add to the quality of life for all citizens living in the central core area. 3. Kitchener has not added park land in recent years at the rate of 65 acres per year to keep pace with the growing population. Purchase of the Hidden Valley property in the near future would help put park acquisition on track by acquiring a three year proportion in one large piece. 4. A suitable wild life corridor connection with Homer Watson park would create a large enough natural area for deer and other wild life to exist in a natural heritage setting close to the centre of the city. RECENT ACTIONS BY KITCHENER COUNCIL The 9 January, 2012 staff report INS-12-010 recommended that the Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) be cancelled and that the remaining $3.4 million be used for current operations. Representatives of the Friends of Hidden Valley addressed the Finance Committee on 9 January and suggested that a significant part of the $3.4 million be used to purchase all 200 acres of Hidden Valley. Council decide to reject the staff proposal and freeze the LEAF money until they had time to consider the options. At the 25 March, 2012 meeting Kitchener Council voted to give Compass Kitchener the task of acquiring citizen input about the future of the LEAF programme. In the time between April and July, Compass Kitchener will request citizen input and then make reccomendations to Council. How can you get involved and help ? In late January the Waterloo Region Record published an editorial supporting the purchase of Hidden valley and requested readers to write letters. In the weeks that followed about fifteen letters were published that supported the Record's editorial. To bring this message to our elected councillors, you can help by doing the following: 1. As soon as Compass Kitchener announces its plan for receiving input, please either write a letter in support of using a significant part of the remaining $3.4 million in the LEAF for the purchase of all 200 acres of HIdden Valley. If they decide to hold a public meeting then please attend and either speak or write your opinions. 2. In addition to writing to Compass Kitchener, it is essential to inform all the Kitchener councillors how you feel about using the LEAF money. Write to Mayor Zehr and all the councillors to request that council use a significant part of the LEAF money to purchase the Hidden Valley property and include it as part of a Grand River Heritage Trail Park. [ If you do not have time to write all the councillors, then in your letter to the mayor include the phrase "Please distribute this letter to all councillors " ] 3. If you have time to learn more about Kitchener parks, then read the 2010 Park Master Plan. It is available at either the library or at city hall. If you only have time for a shorter version then
Please visit our Hidden Valley and the Park Master Plan (PMP)page to see how Hidden Valley would fit into the PMP.If you agree with our proposal then add your support to our campaign by contacting the Mayor and Council. Thank you.
Add your support at : Contact your Kitchener councillor
4. Not sure what Hidden Valley has to offer ? -- Take time to visit some of the other pages in this web site that are listed in the side bar at the left.
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