News Sports turf Municipal
Hundreds rally at Barrie city hall to protest plans for sports field along waterfront area

Upwards of 200 people rallied outside city hall in Barrie, Ont. Wednesday evening to protest plans to build an artificial turf sports field and parade grounds on the waterfront near Military Heritage Park.

City council had essentially approved the $9.15-million project on May 15. The facility is meant to accommodate soccer, rugby, football and lacrosse as well as a marching area for the local Sea Cadets. The plan was approved with only two dissenting votes.

Further public consultation regarding the sports field is to take place. The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority must issue a permit for the project to proceed and an archaeological assessment is also required.

Opponents of the sports field are supportive of the grounds intended for the Sea Cadets, but argue the field’s intended site must be preserved in its natural state.

A petition that began circulation May 7 that opposes the project had garnered more than 4,400 signatures by May 29.