Vermont company wants to build canopy zip line at Earl Bales Park
Posted January 23, 2012 1:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Vermont-based company would like to make Bathurst and Sheppard a destination that thrill-seekers consider when planning a zip line adventure.
ArborTrek, an eco-tourism company based in Jefferson, Vt., submitted a proposal this past summer to Coun. James Pasternak about installing a zip line track at Earl Bales Park. Meetings about the idea have been held with parks, forest and conservation officials, who’ve all expressed concern, the councillor told CityNews.ca.
While Pasternak said he thinks the idea of having a thrill-seeking destination in his ward is exciting, he defers to the advice of experts.
“There’s push-back from forestry, there’s push-back from parks, and from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority ( TRCA),” he said.
“I have to rely on the expertise of the forestry and conservation people and they have expressed their concerns. So while I’m excited about the prospect of having a zip line operation in Ward 10, it’s a long way before we can get the OK on this.”
ArborTrek and the TRCA weren’t immediately available for comment.
Pasternak said the proposal includes ArborTrek “incurring all of the startup and capital costs and then on a revenue-sharing basis over the period of the contract.”
“It’s an extremely popular sport. … It’s great for school groups, for team-building, for thrill-seekers and it’s done in an environmentally-friendly way.”
The councillor said he hopes talks continue on a modified version of the proposed project or whether something like this could happen in another part of the city.
“I think Toronto needs new ideas,” he said.
“I think we have to be open to this kind of recreation and activity to get people outside, to get people into our ravines and forests and having fun.”
