Canada's Capital Greenbelt Master Plan - 2013.

Guidelines pertaining to the Nepean Sportsplex and Confederation Education Centre 

• Limit buildings and parking lots to existing area in accordance with Chapters 5 and 6.
• Recognize this facility as an edge facility and permit future continued intensive use and adaptive re-use of the site, including maintenance of existing sports fields and the use of the school's existing site for recreational uses; 
• Encourage integration of educational and promotional messages about the Greenbelt and Pinhey Forest at the Nepean Sportsplex. (page 120/196.)

  Allowable Activities and Uses 

• Non-intensive or linear recreational uses, such as nature interpretation, walking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing.
• Geo-caching and orienteering events in designated areas.
• Cycling and horseback riding on designated trails.
• Ecological research.
• Federal activities that support facility operations without causing permanent ecosystem damage.
• Existing houses.
• Existing interpretive or training facilities.
• Existing off-leash dog areas. (page 74/196.)
• ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Members of my family on the Pinhey Forest Trail and cross-country skiing on the Greenbelt:
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Prohibited Activities and Uses

• New facility area
• New stormwater management facilities
• Motorized access along recreational trails
• Any other uses that would degrade natural features or undermine ecosystems. Seasonal restrictions may occur for some of the listed Allowable Activities and Uses. (page 73/196.)

The Regent Park School of Music is included in a Taylor Swift album.

The song is called "It's Nice to Have a Friend."

 

900 square miles of land in the National Capital Region are a living memorial to Canada's War Dead.

 Privy Council of Canada Document No. 6721 "The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated 25th October 1945, from the Minister of Public Works, stating: 'That under the authority of Order in Council P.C. 5635 of August 16, 1945, an area comprising some 900 square miles, more or less, adjoining the City has been defined as the National Capital district and it has been decided to re-engage Mr. Greber to make a study of that area with a view of preparing plans for a suitable long-term development of such area as a National War Memorial.' (From: The Greber Report of 1950.) Prime Minister of Canada William Lyon Mackenzie King signed the Order in Council.

"Federal, scenic highways and parks in the National Capital Region are dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers who died fighting in foreign wars. They will be owned by the citizens of Canada in perpetuity." (From: The Greber Report of 1950, page 228/395.)

The 50,000 acre Greenbelt in Ottawa is part of the National War Memorial. 

 Properties that are on the Greenbelt: (Reposting)

• Pinhey Forest
• Major's Hill Park behind the Chateau Laurier
• Commissioners Park on Carling Avenue
• Agriculture Canada research farms on Carling Avenue and 1740 Woodroffe
• Green's Creek Conservation Area
• Hornets Nest soccer fields
• Pine View golf course
• Mer Bleue Conservation Area
• Farms
• Bruce Pit---an off-leash dog park
• Conroy Pit---an off-leash dog park  
• the Connaught National Army Cadet Summer Training Centre
• Canadian Space Agency
• Shirley's Bay
• Airport land
• Wesley Clover Park
• Schools
• Canada Food Inspection Agency
• Hylands Golf Club
• Lime Kiln Trail
• the 19th Tee Driving Range
• Stony Swamp Conservation Area

House of Commons Ottawa November 3, 1981 MP Jean-Robert Gauthier (Ottawa-Vanier) Liberal: "Madame Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Public Works who is responsible for the National Capital Commission. Last week, Ottawa newspapers headlined that the NCC was prepared to give up land in the Greenbelt, the untouchable zone surrounding the National Capital." 

The Nepean Sportsplex parking lot--- a study by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

 Ottawa, Ontario April 27, 2020. "The National Capital Commission has determined that the proposed Nepean Sportsplex Parking Lot Rehabilitation is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects."

Mitigation measures taken into account for this determination will be put in place to address potential significant adverse effects on the following components of the environment:

• Wildlife, including
• Migratory Birds
• Species at Risk
• Groundwater/Surface Water Quality and/or Quantity
• Soil Quality
• Soil Quantity
• Air Quality
• Vegetation
• Human Health
• Archeological Resources

"After reviewing comments received and conducting an internal review, the National Capital Commission is satisfied that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects." (Google: Nepean Sportsplex Parking Lot Rehabilitation.)

The Glebe Annex Community Association comments about the Experimental Farm "There is much concern voiced over the fact that the public is asked to cite its concerns about zoning now, when so much information is missing. Currently there is no:

• Traffic Study
• Environmental Impact Study
• Heritage Study
• Site Plan
• Transportation Plan
• Parking Strategy

"The city (of Ottawa) reassured attendees that all studies will be completed before the site plan application is approved, and that there will be a holding provision in place until that point, but this does not preclude a decision from being made about zoning." 

I am reposting the following information:

• Potential removal of Greenbelt designation from Eagleson Park and Ride.
• Potential removal of Greenbelt designation from Nepean Sportsplex. (Google: Greenbelt Master Plan Consultation Report-Phase 1-Step C-Land Use Concept---Prepared for the NCC on January 2012.) Page 16 of 124 pages.

We the people are losing park land, Experimental Farms, government buildings, athletic fields and sports venues.

 The Hog's Back Park encompassed 125 acres in 1957. In 2024 the land mass is 57 acres.

The Directory of Federal Real Property. The map and information are from 2023.

• Property Number: 02882
• Custodian: National Capital Commission
• Interest: Crown Owned
• Restriction: No Restriction
• Primary Use: Parks and Recreation
• Address: Hog's Back
• Municipality: Ottawa
• Province/Territory: Ontario
• Federal Electoral District: Ottawa South
• Census Classification: Rural
• Land Area: 23.2657 ha
• Building Count: 2
• Record Created: July 30th, 1998
• Record Last Modified On: November 9, 2023

Similarities between the Nepean Sportsplex and Confederation Education Centre.

The Nepean Sportsplex and Confederation Education Centre are on the Greenbelt. "The Greenbelt is like an 'Emerald Necklace' and exists as a memorial to the Canadians who gave their lives in the Second World War. Starting at Shirley's Bay just north of Kanata, it circles through Stony Swamp and Pinhey Forest and then continues east through the experimental farm where it arcs back northward through Mer Bleue and then follows Green's Creek to the Ottawa River. The Greenbelt reaches a distance of 45 kilometers and ranges in width from two to 10 kilometers." (NCC-Have your say about the Greenbelt's future! 2009.)

House of Commons Ottawa June 23, 1992 Mrs. Beryl Gaffney (Nepean): "I have a letter which clearly reflects the wishes of the majority of the people in this region and it states: 'We do not want the greenbelt lands severed and sold for residential and commercial development.' Can the minister give a clear undertaking in the House today that this will not happen in the national capital region?"

Hon. Elmer MacKay (Minister of Public Works): "...I see no likelihood of any of these lands being severed and sold for residential purposes. I certainly do not endorse such a policy."

The Nepean Sportsplex and the former Confederation High School are part of the National Interest Land Mass. "The National Interest Land Mass consists of 'National Shrines, the river and canal banks, the Confederation Boulevard, the Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt in the National Capital Region considered essential to the realization of Vision of the Capital...Land forming part of the NILM will be retained by the NCC on behalf of the government in perpetuity for purposes which lie at the core of the NCC's mandate; and will be managed by the NCC with little or no further management by the Treasury Board Secretariat." 1988.

Most of the land adjacent to the Sportsplex and former high school is reserved for Parks and Recreation: Reposting The Directory of Federal Real Property Nepean Sportsplex:

• Property Number 01009
• Custodian: National Capital Commission
• Interest: Crown Owned
• Primary Use: Parks and Recreation
• Address: 1701 Woodroffe Avenue
• Municipality: Ottawa
• Province/Territory: Ontario
• Federal Electoral District: Nepean
• Census Classification: Rural
• Land Area: 15.8315 ha (39.12048847 acres.)

Confederation Education Centre

• Property Number 01007
• Custodian: National Capital Commission
• Interest: Crown Owned
• Restriction: No Restriction
• Primary Use: Parks and Recreation
• Address: 1645 Woodroffe Ave.
• Municipality: Ottawa
• Province/Territory: Ontario
• Federal Electoral District: Nepean
• Census Classification: Rural
• Land Area: 4.5195 ha (11.1679 acres)
• Record Created On: July 30th, 1998
• Record Last Modified On: September 25th, 2017.

The Eagleson Park and Ride may be converted to housing units: "Ottawa eyes 20 sites for affordable housing" by Geraldine Grones, April 1, 2019: "The Tom Brown Arena, Bob MacQuarrie recreation complex and a baseball stadium on Coventry Road could one day be redeveloped into affordable housing, according to the City of Ottawa.''

Also on the list for affordable housing: The RCMP Headquarters on the Vanier Parkway; a small gas station site on Richmond Road; the Forward Family Shelter in Mechanicsville; Park and Rides in Greensboro and Place d'Orleans and a 2.4 ha (5.9 acre) site in Barrhaven on Greenbank Road at Strandherd and Longfields. 

Nepean Sportsplex

Confederation Education Centre

Down the Merivale Road. A poem by W.W. Campbell.

At morning down the Merivale Road When all the world is June 

Of woods and fields the blest abode And meadowlarks atune under the maples in the sun.

 The world is fair and sweet. For miles the fields and meadows run.

 A paradise complete.

In fields where daisies blink their eyes, and molten sunlight shifts the buttercups into the skies.

 Its golden chalice lifts. And out beyond the valley the mighty river lies. Dim, blue and misty, vast and fair.

The lone Laurentians arise.

Front-Norman Duncan and William Wilfred Campbell. Back-W.L. Mackenzie King and Henry A. Burbidge.