OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor. Send your letters to [email protected]. This letter is in response to the possibility of an aerial park coming to Couchiching Beach Park and a letter to the editor opposing the idea.
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I want to take a moment to respond to the idea of the aerial park in Couchiching Beach Park.
I will never use it. I am older, and not very spry. I still think it's a marvellous idea. There are a lot of reasons why this would be a good thing.
The economic impact would be good for the community. As someone who works at the casino, increasing tourism traffic is an excellent idea.
My second point is that after the year we have had, children have been stifled, closed in and in many ways had their freedoms drastically reduced, at a time in their lives when freedom is so important.
My third point is that a community that invests in itself will generate interest for others to invest. The efficacy of doing something visible will pay many invisible dividends in the long run.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, staying focused on the past and how things used to be done is tilting at windmills, and flirting with disaster. We need to focus on tomorrow. So, doing something for young people helps the future.
Now, I understand that many people love our region because it is so natural, and the natural beauty might be affected by an aerial park. I don't agree. There are lots of wonderful natural spaces, all over the area. To suggest that a play space would mar natural beauty is missing the most important point. There is nothing more wonderful than the sounds of laughing children.
Brad Johnston
Orillia
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