Land adjacent to Dow's Lake including the parking lot, is off-limits to developers.

House of Commons Ottawa September 23, 1949  The Hon. James Garfield Gardiner (Minister of Agriculture): "The other evening the hon. member for Winnipeg North asked a question with regard to the Ottawa central experimental farm, and questions were also asked by the hon. member for Victoria-Carleton. I am informed that the size of the farm is 1,194.4 acres, made up of:

• the old original farm, 468 acres
• the Caldwell farm of 300 acres
• the Scott farm of 65 acres
• the Booth farm of 361.4 acres.

"In 1949 the Scott farm of 65 acres was added...I might add that this last purchase comprises a piece of land lying close to the city between the experimental farm and Dow's Lake. On that land we have located some of the equipment necessary to naval wireless control, affecting radio and different matters of that kind. In order to prevent buildings being placed upon that land in the immediate vicinity of this equipment, if the equipment was going to remain there, it was found necessary to have that land secure against such buildings being placed there. We had the land rented for experimental farm purposes, and on the suggestion of the department concerned we purchased it, rather than have it subjected to that kind of development. The purchase was made for experimental farm purposes only because of the necessity of having it under government control."

The Hon. Mr. Gardiner (Minister of Agriculture) Liberal: "There have been discussions from time to time of the advisability of retaining the farm in such close proximity to the city of Ottawa. It is argued by some that the property could be converted to other uses and thereby bring a considerable return to the government. The argument up to date has always been that it is a real asset to the city, to the eastern part of Canada and to a very considerable extent to the people of Canada as a whole."

"When people, particularly from agricultural areas, come to the Capital they can go out and see the latest experiments that are being carried on at a place close to the city. If it were ten or fifteen miles away many people would not go near it or be able to find the opportunity to go. Most people who come from outlying sections of Canada look upon the farm as being one of the sights that they want to see while in Ottawa and I have no doubt that many of them carry away beneficial ideas in connection with agriculture that otherwise they would not get."