The Township of Algonquin Highlands is looking to provide more parking off of Big Hawk Lake Road and Little Hawk Lake Road. 

 

Both
roads are dead ends which end at docking facilities where water-access
cottagers park to access their properties. While the township maintains
parking lots in both areas, during the summer months, both roadways
become lined with parked vehicles. According to a report from public
works director Adam Thorn, during the 2018 Labour Day weekend, between
the two locations there were approximately 350 vehicles parked along the
road. 

“It seems to be increasing yearly,” Thorn told councillors during a Feb. 21 meeting. 

Neither lake is at development capacity and Thorn has been looking into options for increased parking space. 

 

At
Little Hawk, the relocation of a privy from the parking lot when it is
replaced would provide a bit more space and in addition, the County of
Haliburton may widen the road bed, which would allow for six to eight
vehicles to parked along the roadway. 

A
more long-term solution, however, may involve land owned by the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Thorn will contact the
ministry regarding the potential purchase or property use agreement for a
nearly two-acre parcel of land owned by the ministry, which would be
developed into a parking lot. 

 

At Big
Hawk, the plan would be to develop 1.5 to two acres of township owned
land abutting the roadway into additional parking. A vegetative buffer
would be retained between the road and the new lot. 

 

“I’m not hearing anything negative, so I guess we’ll look forward to that coming back,” said Mayor Carol Moffatt. 

Thorn will bring further reports back to council.