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Re: Backlash brews over closure of York Regional Forest's 120-km trail system
I want to clear up a few false claims made by the Regional Municipality of York.
The region is saying the large group of cars in the parking lot outside the forest is cause for concern as people might come in contact with each other.
I have been going to the regional forest for five years now and it is rare to even see anyone in the parking lot.
It is clear the people who made this decision have never been in the forest or in the parking lot to observe people coming and going. If they did, they would know the rationale for closing the forest is just pure bunk.
I am one of the people with a compromised immune system. Over the last month, in the forest, it was very rare to come in contact with anyone else. If you did happen upon a person, it was easy to have a 20-foot distance, even on the single trails.
So over the last two days, I have had to walk in Fairy Lake as I will not walk on a narrow sidewalk. Day one, I passed 32 people; today, 44 people.
Closing the forests makes zero sense and the politicians who have made the call on this should be held accountable as they are increasing people’s risk of catching COVID-19.
By the way, if cars parked together is the main cause to close the forest, do I need to point out the obvious? Shopping centres, gas stations, and liquor stores (now that is crowded) are all areas with 100 times more cars than the forest parking lots.
There are signs at Fairy Lake reminding you to space out, which is a great idea. Why not put these same signs throughout the regional forest?
I really hope NewmarketToday stays on this story as it is important. If a bad decision was made by the region, deal with it and make the correction.
Mark Levert, Newmarket
