Please join us for a nature walk

through Elmhurst and Frank Ryan Park

Unfortunately, the photo above is all too typical of the state of forest throughout both parks.  Explore their footpaths and instead of "pristine wilderness", the words that comes to mind are "depressing boneyard of neglect"... the photos below document that unfortunate reality.

Virtually everyone who lives in Queensway Terrace North agrees that Elmhurst and Fran Ryan parks should be left as natural as possible.  We all want a "natural look" but anyone who walks through can see that this is not how a healthy forest regenerates itself.  

In many places,  dead trees are simply felled and left to rot.  Branches are piled up with no attempt to cut them up so they lie flat and decompose while giving people freedom to roam

Please note:
My objective in creating this webpage is not to have an army of government workers (or contractors) descend on the forest to implement new infrastructure and amenities.  Ottawa is already blessed with large "parks" that have vast areas of mowed lawns, garbage bins, park benches and excellent play facilities... the west end of Frank Ryan is already one of the best and most fully developed parks in Ottawa.

Clearing away some of the unnatural debris is all that's needed to allow the park to thrive as pristine wilderness... a sister park to Mud Lake.

The City of Ottawa staff member we saw here (wielding a chainsaw) told me that this is style of forestry "is natural and good for the birds and insects".   however tax-paying people would love to wander through naturally developed footpaths and that's not possible with the tangle of fallen logs and brush.  

City staff on site here in Frank Ryan park told me that there are "no plans at this time" to alter this style of "natural" forestry.  A visit to Elmhurst shows that it could take forever for these eyesores to be removed... Mother Nature will do it.

The excuse given by staff is that there's no money or resources available for removing the wood or chipping it in place.  Surely this green jewel of a park in the heart of Ottawa deserves better...

As this proves, we are ready willing and able to help get the job done.

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-engagement/projects/queensway-terrace-storm-sewer-rehabilitation

https://app06.ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/apps/empdir/citytel.pl?lang=en&lname=Pollard&fname=Jason&extf&submit=Search

Dear Mayor Watson