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LETTER: Removing trees for sports field would affect Lakeshore Dr.

After trees are removed and facility is built, reader says 'what we will have is a very broad, treeless area tantamount to an Arctic desert'
Letter to the Editor
06132024dietermuellerprotest
Barrie resident Dieter Mueller is shown outside Barrie City Hall during Wednesday's protest against building an artificial sports field on city's southern shore. Image supplied

BarrieToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following story is in reference to 'Location, location, location: Protesters hold second rally opposing sports field,' published June 12.

Why should the proposed Barrie sports field on the lakeshore be moved elsewhere? Or, save lives and property, move the proposed sports field. 

Highway 400 coming into Barrie is notorious for whiteouts in the winter, as the micro-region is not only prone to winter storms, but also lake-effect snow squalls. Accidents featuring property damage with injuries and loss of life have occurred due to these hazards.

Countering the risk to motorists, the Ministry of Transportation planted a very large number of trees on the west side of the highway, especially in the Innisfil Beach Road area.

Trees equal safety.

There exists a potentially similar hazard in Barrie along Lakeshore Drive if the sports field is allowed to be built on the recommended spot.

Once the trees have been removed, the concrete is poured, the astro-turf is laid and the parking lot is paved, what we will have is a very broad, treeless area tantamount to an Arctic desert.

Prevailing northwesterly winds are then free to sweep in over Kempenfelt Bay and will no longer be slowed by what vegetation is there today.

Winds will howl across the newly created flats, sweeping across Lakeshore Drive for a possible five-month Barrie winter, causing whiteouts and deep, impassible, dangerous snowdrifts.

Accidents will happen for sure. Lives may be compromised.

Allowing the sports field to go ahead in the planned location will thus mean exposure to vehicular property damage, injuries and perhaps even death.

Much has been said concerning environmental impact, ecosystem destruction and the cursed micro plastics from synthetic turf, etc., but let’s face it. Human lives matter the most.

For this reason and this reason alone, which is so important, Barrie city council would be wise to shelf the current proposal and put the sports field elsewhere.

Dieter Mueller
Barrie