Local nature organizations say they're eager for community consultation as the process of establishing an Ojibway National Urban Park move along.
Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie's motion to consider integrating the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve into the proposed Ojibway National Urban Park was passed in the provincial parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking on AM800's The Shift with Patty Handysides, Mike Fisher, Chair of the National Urban Park Committee and The Friends of Ojibway Prairie, says it's exciting to see the process continue to advance.
"Very important to have public consultation to make sure that things move forward the right way. There's been some great opportunities to speak with the City of Windsor and Parks Canada, and now we're very eager to talk to the provincial government and Ontario Parks as well to make sure an Ojibway National Urban Park happens the best way."
Lands associated with the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve represent a significant footprint within the Ojibway Prairie Complex.
The natural area is home to thousands of species, including over 2,000 insects, over 700 species of plants and about 18 per cent of those plants are considered to be rare in Ontario.
Fisher says engaging the community and Indigenous rights holders, including Walpole Island and Caldwell First Nation, is important because there are different conversations in terms of how the integration would happen.
He says questions would include whether the community is receptive to Ontario Parks maintaining ownership of the lands, or is something where we'd like to see Parks Canada take ownership.
"Kind of oversee the entire national urban park. So it's something we'd really like to see that conversation so everyone in the Windsor community is getting involved and having their input. Really contributing to the vision of what we get because we want the best outcome possible."
Fisher says the process may have been slower going than many would've liked, but he feels it's been picking up momentum recently.
"I know in the next couple of weeks the City of Windsor is looking to have some pop up events and really looking to hear back from as many individuals in the community as possible. And now it's really just a matter of 'OK, we're moving forward with the provincial nature reserve as well' and we want to make sure that there are similar opportunities to interact with Parks Canada and really put the community spirit into this."
The first public open house for the proposed Ojibway National Urban Park took place back on November 17 at the Ojibway Nature Centre, where residents had the opportunity to ask questions of officials from Parks Canada and the City of Windsor with regards to lands currently being considered within the draft study area.
- with files from AM800's The Shift with Patty Handysides