Upgrades to park, Richmond Conservation Area

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By John Curry

EMC News - The Richmond Conservation Area and the Royal York Street Park along the Jock River in Richmond are both slated for some upgrading.

A plan to make some improvements to Royal York Street Park is currently in draft form.

"We're not looking at anything drastic," Kristy Giles, manager of conservation lands for the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) told the Richmond Village Association executive at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The proposed plan deals with formalizing a trail that runs behind the pumping station and through the park. The plan also deals with improving the access to the boat launch at the park.

Other improvements will be benches and improved garbage receptacles, a visitor map and thinning out a treed area on the site so that it does not attract youth loitering. The idea is to give the park more of a "managed" appearance so that it will attract more visitors to the site.

"It's basic improvements and small amenities," Ms. Giles said about the plan which is going to be posted on the RVCA website so that community input can be received.

The Richmond Conservation Area (the former lagoons site) will be getting signage for its pathways. In addition, a large sign identifying the Richmond Conservation Area is to be erected along the Eagleson Road this spring.

Interpretive signage about features at the Richmond Conservation Area is to be erected with the hope of making the area more welcoming to users.

There is also going to be more work done to formalize the pathways in the Richmond Conservation Area by applying stonedust to them.

It is also expected that a bird viewing platform which will extend out over the water of one of the former lagoons will be erected this year.

How dogs should be handled in the Richmond Conservation Area is also a matter that is being considered by city of Ottawa staff.

As a Conservation Area where birds nest, there is a question about whether dogs should not be allowed to run loose but should be kept on leash so that they do not destroy bird nests.

Signage about the city's "poop and scoop" bylaw and the responsibility of dog owners to pick up after their dogs is also on the city's radar with regard to the Richmond Conservation Area.

The Richmond Conservation Area belongs to the city of Ottawa while the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority does do some work there under contract to the city.