Effect of Development of DRAP Lands on the Rouge National Urban Park

How would the development effect the biodiversity and preservation of species that is part of the mission of the park? How will housing development effect human enjoyment and appreciation of this natural setting that is especially precious with its proximity to the city?

First, the park is a treasure and becomes more and more beautiful and rich each year. In 10 to 20 years it will become more of a tourist destination. In 50 years, it will be one of the biggest attractions of tourists to the Toronto area. In 100 years, it will be moving to being an old growth forest. What a legacy to our cities and the world we have given to the future with this park.

I am not versed in the science fully but I do know there is a heron rookery in the DRAP lands that will be gone with development. These birds,  visit the park and are part of the biodervisity. I have heard there are otters living in the southern part of the DRAP again, they move between the lands. I can only imagine the noise, dirruption of water tables, places of food supply, that the DRAP provides for species both plant and animal and thus contributes to the life across road at the park. The housing development will take decades to complete so that is decades of noise for the many species living in the park.

For humans on all the trails across from the DRAP will hear noise of construction for decades. It will destroy the chance to hear birdsongs, frogs, the creek water and more. Sounds that nourish us with beauty and calmness. At this time, driving down the York/Durham Line from Highway 7 I feel the beauity of the park and the expanse of the farmlands of the DRAP. This sense of peace will be sold out to the decades of noise and carving out of the soil, destroying of plant and animal life on one side and an attempt to preserve them on the other. The feeling of the natural beauty of the park will be forever tainted.

I would love to see all of the DRAP lands included in the park including the Seaton Trail which is one of the most gorgeous trails in the GTA with its many many trees that are more than 100 years of age.

Thank you for doing this study. A future of the these lands, the RNUP and the DRAP,  allowing for diverse plant and animal life along with some thoughtful and sustainable agriculture is with this Class 1 soil is a prosperous future for us all.