Holland Landing councillors contemplate crosswalk on Yonge Street

Yorkregion.com
July 11, 2019
Simon Martin

The Holland Landing Community Centre has always been a hub activity.

There's the East Gwillimbury Public Library Branch, the tennis courts, the basketball court and, now, the Holland Landing Scooter and Skate Park.

It’s been a long time coming.

The community had been advocating for a skate park for more than 10 years, so the new addition has been well received.

“It doesn’t seem to matter, when you drive by there are always kids there. I think it has been a good addition to the area,” Ward 1 Coun. Terry Foster said.

But there have been some concerns voiced that there's no safe way for children to cross Yonge Street from the park to the plaza.

Foster said they have been made aware kids are running across the road.

While it’s not a huge deal, Foster said they are looking into the viability of a crosswalk to help make the area more safe for youth in the community.

The closest stop light for children to cross at is at Bradford Street, a significant distance down the road.

Fellow Ward 1 Coun. Loralea Carruthers said it’s important to look at all options when community safety is a stake.

“The consequences are huge,” she said. “The skate park has increased the number of kids in the area. We are doing are due diligence to see if a crosswalk is warranted.”

Since Yonge Street is a regional road, the request will be investigated at the regional level.

Holland Landing isn’t the only Scooter and Skate Park on the go in town at the moment.

The town is rehabilitating Mount Albert Community Park, slated to be home to a new skate park.

The first phase of the Mount Albet Park rehabilitation includes the parking area for the facility and park, along with a new pavilion/shade structure.

Also included in the first phase are the skate zone and the junior and senior play area.

The existing softball field is to remain unchanged, as is the community centre. The Mount Albert Lions Club is also partnering with the town to help fund a new skate park.

Club president Vaughan Moult said the group decided a few years ago to help youth in the area and thought a skate park would be a worthy venture.

“Mount Albert has changed a lot over the years. We wanted to do something for all the new residents,” Moult said.

The Lions have raised $25,000 and aim to raise $75,000 in total for the project.

Residents can make a donation through a GoFundMe campaign, which can be found through the Mount Albert Lions Facebook page.

“We want to make a difference in the community,” he said. The majority of the funds the Lions raise for the park come from events held throughout the year, including the maple syrup breakfast, Octoberfest and barbecues at music in the park.

According to the town, the skate park will be a similar size to the one in Holland Landing, if not a little bigger.