Public meeting to be held on planned Bolton arts  pavilion

By Matthew Strader

Caledon will host a public meeting to bring an arts pavilion project to the community.

And it's about time, say some members of the community.

“Residents on Sackville and surround(ing) streets never heard or knew about this ‘till we received the letter from the city two days prior to construction,” said Chris Terz. “We were all surprised.”

Terz approached the Caledon Citizen in regard to an article announcing the construction of an Arts Pavillion in Dick's Dam Park, because he said the image used with it was misleading as it impressed the construction would happen in a different part of a large park.  

“The location proposed is in front of the homes on Sackville Street. The structure will be built in a very close proximity to homes,” Terz said.

However, the residents concerned with the project have more problems with notification.

Tanya Milan said she received the letter on April 9 and was surprised. She and other residents did some research and found an old newspaper article from 2022 in which the town was seeking public input on a Rotary Bandshell for RJA Potts Memorial Park, but could not find anything in regard to the project for Dick's Dam Park.

“Never were the residents of Sackville ever given any information about this project potentially being built literally in our front yards,” she said.

Terz said they believe the project was supposed to be built at RJA Potts Memorial Park in 2021. “There is a complete online package from the city stating sound, occupancy of 500 to 1,000 people, being able to rent the structure online for private use, etc. Pretty much all the concerns we have were expressed. We found online town hall meeting dates and information and eventually this was stopped and never constructed, I believe due to residents' concerns.”

Now, he said, it appears Caledon is trying to build the same in a smaller space right in front of homes without anyone in the surrounding area knowing what is happening until now. They are wondering how that is possible with so much online info available for the RJA Potts based project.

“Can we expect 500 to 1,000 people out front of our house every weekend for the summer? Will people be renting it out and cranking music and parties out front of our houses all summer? There was no information and as we speak we still don't have any info from the city.”

Milan said they've now been told there will be a community meeting on April 30 at the Humber River Centre from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., but the online ads they've seen advertising the meeting say that it is for information sharing. So, residents are wondering if this meeting is to address concerns, or simply to announce and explain the project.

Milan said residents are concerned about parking, the lack of sidewalks in the area, extra traffic in a quiet neighbourhood, proper lighting, sound levels, drug and alcohol use, litter, the resale value of their homes due to this, and more.

“The neighbours are not happy about this and we have started a petition and have had many residents in the area sign against this being built,” Milan said. “We are not against a Pavilion/bandshell, just not so close to homes in our neighbourhood. I'm sure the Town and TRCA can find a better location for this. Why not the soccer fields off Glasgow which already has bathrooms, lighting and there are no homes directly around that soccer field?”

The town was sent questions for this story, but did not respond by press time.