RESTORE COOTES

The idea of enhancing the natural assets existing in the east end of Dundas are not new: in fact, in 1968, Dundas Councillor John Prentice put forth a motion after meeting with the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority and Royal Botanical Gardens board members, "to make Desjardin's Canal and the water in Cootes Paradise navigable for non-power boats, such as canoes. Also recommended was opening up nature trails, eliminating erosion problems by dredging, and general rehabilitation of the whole area. Included in the plan would be long range objectives such as deepening Spencer Creek, construction of parking space, wilderness areas, upstream projects to reduce erosion. Councillor Prentice thought action should be taken immediately the recommendations were approved. He said Dundas had control over the area." Dundas Star December 18, 1968 This area is still ripe for saving from inappropriate developments that would undermine the natural beauty and the ecological integ

The Hamilton Cycling Committee, a council appointed committee, has this to say about the "Preferred Location for Velodrome" (from July committee minutes ) - (which supports what Restore Cootes believes to be best for Cootes, and the city - no velodrome in Dundas in a Environmentally Sensitive Area, and no new taxes to pay for this) - Support West Harbour location as well as other downtown locations - Within urban envelope and in vicinity of downtown in order to ensure accessibility to all Hamiltonians - Limits for consideration would be McMaster (westerly), Ivor Wynne stadium area easterly, water to the north, escarpment to the south (keep it in the lower city) - The above limits have the best transit service in the whole of the city - which is important.  - Accessibility to highways is important and the downtown is accessible from the highway (there are many ways to get downtown – there is a misconception that the downtown is not as easily accessed as locations off

Since Restore Cootes interviewed Dundas councillor Russ Powers, the Velodrome has once again come back from the dead in Dundas. What is going on behind the scenes? What follows is the relevant excerpt from the October 5 2010 Economic Development and Planning (E.D.P.) minutes: 8.2       Addition of Lands to the Niagara Escarpment Plan - Cootes Paradise Link (PW 176)(PED10228) Ferguson : [1:36:39] Okay, item 8.2 which is addition of lands to the Niagara Escarpment Cootes Paradise lands. Joanne, do you want to give us an overview of this. Hickey - Evans : The elevator speech? Ferguson : Yeah, the elevator speech, thank you. Hickey - Evans : Just very quickly, the Niagara Escarpment has received an order in council to add additional lands to their portfolio, as it were, their plan area, and it’s a two step process. And now as the second part of the process they’ve identified the appropriate designations for this land, and this land is simply a very small sliver adjacent to Oly

We are adding a new feature to the site: historical glimpses of the issues relating to the themes of Restore Cootes . The dangers of the modern highway become tragically apparent with the first triple fatality on the road (later found to be a result of combining high speed and alcohol consumption); From the May 26, 1966 Dundas Star News: "The death of 23-year-old Jerome (Jerry) Fritesh, 196 Caroline St. S. Hamilton last Thursday afternoon...brought the death toll in the fatal car crash on Cootes Drive (Highway 102) to three...." At the same time, the highway gets a name change to the one we now use: Cootes Drive: "Two of our major entrances to town have been named, or are in the process of being named. Highway 8 is becoming Osler Drive; Highway 102 is becoming Cootes Drive....These are colorful, historic names for Dundas. They should be put into common use." New name, same old problems. The contemporary situation reflects the historical: "In an effort t