IN THE NEWS




The News EMC South Edition
April 27, 2006
by Brian Jackson

Ottawa entrepreneur Larry Pegg has a vision - the largest number of sports fields at one facility on the planet.

The site in his plan is right next to the first extension of the light rail line. His fields could serve as a shared use park-and-ride area while providing the city with much-needed playing grounds. Almost 2 million passengers would get a bird’s-eye view of the park as they landed at Ottawa Airport.

But the airport authority has refused Mr. Pegg’s plan for the space for the last five years. Now, he hopes Osgoode Coun. Doug Thompson’s April 26 motion will bring him a step closer to his dream. The motion calls on the city to negotiate with the airport to put the Ottawa Sports Park on the property - so long as the light rail maintenance yard isn’t built there.

"Along the entire north-south light rail corridor, there is only one spot where a facility like this could be built," Mr. Pegg says. After the airport agreed to negotiate the Bowesville Rd. site for use as a light rail maintenance yard, Mr. Pegg hoped they might consider his park instead.

But the airport authority isn’t about to give up the site.

"The site would be for maintenance yard use only, end of discussion," says Krista Kealey, a spokesperson with the airport.

There are a number of sports fields nearby the airport, but Mr. Pegg’s would be directly underneath planes taking off and landing, Ms. Kealey adds.

After a Public Working Group recommeded Walkley Yard as the best rail maintenance yard site, it is now unlikely it will be placed in the south end, according to Coun. Thompson. In place of the yard, Coun. Thompson supports the park.

"The project is incredibly well thought out," he says. "We need more sports parks." The city has assessed a need for 200 more sports fields. There are more people playing soccer than current fields can support.

Mr. Pegg’s company, Ecoview Developers, built the Ultimate Sports Park featuring 19 fields for the Frisbee-throwing sport at Manotick Station.

Mr. Pegg has been trying to put his park at the site for five years. The airport invited a business plan from Mr. Pegg in 2001, but turned it down due to safety concerns.

"There is a whole variety of reasons why this was refused," Ms. Kealey says. "Safety is our first priority and we can’t compromise safety."

The airport was concerned about the park drawing birds to the site, Mr. Pegg says. He’s come up with plans to keep birds away by restricting eating to certain areas.

"We’ll have special dogs to chase away geese," Mr. Pegg adds. There would also be "bird proof" garbage bins.

But Coun. Thompson speculates the aiport’s withholding of the property has less to do with the number of birds and more to do with the number of dollars.

"If Larry could pay $300 or $400 thousand, they might be more agreeable," Coun. Thompson says. "It is probably more in relation to financial circumstances."

If council agrees to negotiate with the airport for use of the land, money won’t be a bargaining chip.

"I don’t think the city is willing to put money up to help Larry out," Coun. Thompson says. "I’m not sure what the city’s postion on this will be."

Despite Coun. Thompson’s doubts, Mr. Pegg remains optimistic in jumping the hurdles between him and his dream.

"Anything less than 100 % support from city council would be disappointing," he says.

If council agrees to the negotiations, it is still possible the rail yard will be built on the site. There is also no guarantee the airport will want to negotiate.

The agreement made with the city for the maintenance yard won’t transform into an agreement for the park, Ms. Kealey says. "There will be no other use for this site."

But Mr. Pegg has his heart set on the location. His vision sees teams getting pumped up for soccer games as they ride light rail transit to his park. Park hiking trails will connect to other city paths.

"Let’s take the blinders off and open up to a wonderful opportunity," Pegg says. If the park isn’t realized "it would be a great loss."

© The News EMC South 2006



It's Time To Pipe Up And Help Save The Bluebird Trail
by Elizabeth Le Geyt
The Ottawa Citizen

February 25, 2006

The eastern bluebird still visits our area thanks in part to a bluebird trail along Bowesville Road.

The declining numbers among many bird species in the Ottawa area is mostly due to loss of habitat. It is crucial the birding community be aware of how the Riverside South Community design plan will affect environmentally sensitive areas.

Already, a large field on the north side of Armstrong Road, a winter habitat and nesting ground for short-eared owls, snowy owls, red-tailed and rough-legged hawks, has been lost in preparation for a large subdivision.

The proposed O-Train line for this community involves Armstrong, Bowesville and High roads and goes through the heart of woodland on both sides of Bowesville Road where an active, successful bluebird trail exists. This trail, which now has 56 boxes set up and maintained by Brian and June Pye, is the main reason eastern bluebirds are still seen in this part of Ottawa.

A proposal for an Ottawa sports park, now before the Airport Authority, Transport Canada and the City of Ottawa, intends to create a sustainable development that will integrate soccer facilities into the existing natural area and will include a nature preserve in the triangle of land between the north end of Bowesville Road, the eastern end of Armstrong Road and High Road. The northern end of the park will have trails for winter skiing and bird and nature walks in the summer.

The sports park proposal suggests locating the new O-Train corridor along the old rail line that has been in disuse since the rails were torn up in 1999.

Moving the O-Train line and associated park-and-ride lots further south along Armstrong Road would reduce the financial and environmental costs of the rail line. This simple alteration would save the woods and allow the bluebirds to continue nesting there.

Other species will also be affected as the Riverside South development goes ahead as planned. The uncommon grasshopper and clay-coloured sparrows nest on airport property with more common species of field,

Savannah, vesper, song, white-throated and chipping sparrows.

Also associated with this area is a continuing controversy about the location of the rail maintenance yard. Possible sites include the Armstrong Road fields, greenspace near Lester Road and the Airport Parkway, and the existing decades-old Walkley yard, a brownfield site. The Walkley yard site seems the best choice to help protect environmentally threatened areas.

The above examples indicate the growing challenge of development in the national capital area. Protecting our renowned natural areas is the responsibility of everyone interested in the preservation of the natural world. I encourage my readers to contact their city councillors, MPs and MPPs and various media to express their concern about the environmental impact of this development and their support for the Ottawa sports park. Together we can help to preserve some of this vital natural area and the bird habitats.

The birds need our help.

The homo sapien is the most successful species on the planet so far, flourishing and overrunning the earth in a minute space of time in the world's long history. In pursuit of wealth and material possessions, we have raped and pillaged our home with little thought for the other creatures we share it with.

Henry Beston wrote about the animals in his book, The Outermost House: "They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth."

Please send birding reports and specify location to 821-9880 or e-mail elegeyt@rogers.com . The Wild Bird Care Centre for orphaned and injured birds is at 828-2849.

© The Ottawa Citizen 2006



Thousands Attend Festival To Celebrate Rideau Ecosystem
Tuesday, September 6, 2005
Page: A4
Section: News
Byline: BY DEREK ABMA, STAFF WRITER
Dateline: MERRICKVILLE

An environmental group put on an event here on Sunday its members hope will be the beginning of something big, and floating.

Along the Banks involved a mix of entertainment and environmental education. Various musicians performed outside at the Merrickville lock station. Voyageur boat tours were given of the canal. And there was a wealth of information available about the canal. There was even an opportunity to meet a black rat snake.

Larry Pegg, a director with the Rideau Roundtable, which organized the festival, said the goal is to protect the Rideau watershed by allowing people to learn about it while having fun.

The group is looking at the possibility of creating a "floating festival" that would go to various communities along the Rideau Canal.

"It's not an expression," Pegg said of "floating festival."

"We've already looked into floating stages."

Peter Au, president of the Rideau Roundtable, said a feasibility study is needed before deciding whether to create a full-fledged floating party.

But ideally, he said he'd like to try the concept in a limited capacity next year, and have a whole tour in progress by 2007, when the Rideau Canal celebrates it 175th anniversary.

Pegg said the milestone anniversary year will bring a lot of economic opportunity for communities and businesses along the Rideau because of increased tourism.

However, with more tourists comes more pressure on the environment, making public awareness of the nature behind it even more crucial, he said.

"This watershed is important," Pegg said. "It's important to the economy, but it's also important that we understand the ecology of it."

As an example of the environmental awareness that was being spread at the festival, volunteers were asking motorists to turn off their engines while the bridge opened to allow boats to pass. Those who complied received a coupon for a free doughnut from the Smiths Falls Tim Hortons.

As well, Heather Lunn from Murphy's Point Provincial Park was there teaching visitors about a black rat snake she had with her.

Lunn said this type of snake, which is the longest type of snake in Canada, is a "threatened" species. She said teaching people about it can help preserve it.

"When they learn about the snake and they come up and touch the snake, they can see it's not threatening," she said.

Although there were no official counts, Au estimated between 2,000 and 3,000 attended Along the Banks.

With the mild, sunny weather on Sunday, most of downtown Merrickville was busy as people visited the waterfront, the restaurants and various shops.

For Ottawa musician Tiiu Millistver, performing at Along the Banks was an ideal gig.

"This is beautiful," she said. "It's the best weather. It's always great to be along the water."





Others Have Done It
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Page: A11
Section: News
Page Name: Letters
Byline: Larry Pegg
Source: The Ottawa Citizen

Being involved in the planning and development of the proposed Ottawa Sports Park, I am responsible for ensuring that a safe plan is in place. I was led to this unique location near the airport for what I believed to be strong business, community and environmental reasons.

From a business and safety perspective, there are dozens of precedents for the location of recreational facilities near airports, allowing us the comfort of knowing we can proceed with a safe and progressive plan. In Canada, the best example is Calgary, where two large sports facilities are located near the international airport, and also Winnipeg and Regina. Here in Ottawa, the Highlands Golf Course is near the airport. In the United States it is easy to find dozens of examples (including Oakland, Charlotte and Minneapolis-St. Paul). Around the world, there are many others.

These precedents show that there are tremendous opportunities for a new form of sports marketing by locating along the flight path in view of arriving planes. In Ottawa, this new source of marketing revenue (feasible only at this location) would have incubated the funding for three other major facilities, essentially eliminating the city's sports-field scarcity.

The city recently completed a study showing Ottawa to be almost 200 sports fields short of the Ontario average. Those involved with the Ottawa Sports Park propose 30 fields in one location served by light-rail transit.

From an environmental perspective, it is a tremendous opportunity to connect with the O-Train at the most logical point on the transit line. It would create multi-purpose parking, compared with paving over greenspace for a park-and-ride for workday use only.

In addition, the sports park is being designed to protect an existing natural area that is home to many bird species.

The Ottawa Airport Authority is right to be concerned about safety. However, we have a solid plan to address these concerns. What Ottawa needs now is for the municipal government and airport authority to step onto the field and play ball with the public in the interests of our growing community.

Larry Pegg,

Ecoview Developments, Greely

© The Ottawa Citizen 2006



LETTERS: Response: Bad planning has caused flight hazards, AUG. 8
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Page: A11
Section: News
Page Name: Letters
Byline: Tim Lane
Source: The Ottawa Citizen

E.J. Haggerty claims that it would be unsafe to have playing fields "directly in the path of landing strips at Ottawa International Airport."

Looking at the map of the Ottawa Sports Park proposal (www.ecoview.com/OSP.html), one can see that the facility is about two kilometres from the south end of the runway.

At the north end of this same runway, at a similar distance, one finds the intersection of Highway 16 and Hunt Club Road, where buses loaded with children often sit, waiting for the traffic light to change.

There are also houses in Clearview, office buildings along Hunt Club, Auriga Drive and Antares Drive, and just a bit farther, those lovely tank farms along Bentley Avenue, packed with diesel fuel, heating oil, gasoline, and probably jet fuel.

Whose "bad planning" allowed all this infrastructure to be built "directly in the path of landing strips at Ottawa International Airport?"

Tim Lane, Ottawa

© The Ottawa Citizen 2006



Airport CEO says no way land will be sports field
Proposed recreation complex would be 'under a runway'

by Chris Lackner
The Ottawa Citizen

Monday, July 18, 2005

The Ottawa International Airport has flatly turned down an area businessman's proposal to turn 40 hectares of its unused land into the city's largest sports and recreation complex.

"We have no intention whatsoever of turning this land over to this kind of facility," said Paul Benoit, president and CEO of the airport authority. "It's not compatible with aviation safety. The area in question is directly under a runway."

The low-grade Crown lands surrounding the airport, near Armstrong and Limebank roads in Riverside South, were leased to the airport in 1997 for 60 years.

Larry Pegg, the president of Ecoview Developments, has proposed filling the empty land with 30 soccer fields, three indoor fields, a restaurant, an O-Train station and a park 'n' ride facility that can hold thousands of cars.

He envisions a public-private partnership with the city, similar to that enjoyed by the Bell Sensplex in Kanata.

But yesterday, Mr. Benoit said the land is incompatible with Mr. Pegg's vision.

"There is no way the airport can approve and we have told Larry Pegg this repeatedly," Mr. Benoit said. "The first thing in our mind for anything we're doing is safety -- the safety of the travelling public and the safety of people under airplanes. This doesn't work."

The proposed $25-million Ottawa Sports Park would serve dual functions. During the day it would act as a park 'n' ride for commuters and at night it would offer parking and recreational space to sports enthusiasts.

The city's proposed light-rail system will run through part of the vacant land and Mr. Pegg has said an O-Train stop would ensure that people living downtown had access to the facilities.

Transport Canada guidelines and past feasibility studies conducted by the airport authority prohibit other uses of the land, Mr. Benoit said.

"You'd have soccer fields, you'd have a park -- so you'd have birds and things like this. And you'd have airplanes flying directly overhead at under 1,000 feet," he said. "He can put it anywhere he wants, but not directly under a runway."

Mr. Pegg was unavailable for comment yesterday, but city councillors had varied opinions on his proposal.

River Councillor Maria McRae, whose ward includes the airport lands, said the airport has convinced her the land is unsafe for recreational use.

"They said part of the land may be needed as a crash-landing site during the event of an emergency takeoff," she said.

In a recent submission to council, the airport also suggested that a recreation complex could attract unwanted birds, which can interfere in the operation of aircraft, she said.

Ms. McRae said the city should help Ecoview find a different location for the sporting complex.

"The city is in dire need of more sports fields. We're years and years behind and our population is set to grow by a couple 100,000 in the next 15 years."

But Capital Councillor Clive Doucet said the airports' land was the ideal place for the complex.

"I've never understood why the airport is so reluctant to part with the land in the form of a lease," he said. "People flying in would see this wonderful green area. It would be right on our new light-rail line and kids could catch a train right out to the field.

"It makes environmental sense, it makes transportation sense and it makes recreation sense."

Mr. Benoit said if the airport had other land to offer Mr. Pegg, it would be willing to consider the proposal.

"But at the same time we'd do something at market rates. We're not going to give up land for which we're leasing and paying taxes to the government on."



Public-private deal proposed for south-end sports centre

by Vito Pilieci
The Ottawa Citizen

July 16, 2005

An Ottawa businessman has huge plans for a plot of unused land near Ottawa International Airport.

Instead of empty land around the airport, Larry Pegg, president of Ecoview Developments, sees 30 soccer fields, a facility housing three indoor sports fields, a club house, restaurant, an O-Train station and a park 'n ride facility that can hold thousands of automobiles.

The best part is, it wouldn't cost the city a penny.

"This would be the world's largest community sports and recreation park," Mr. Pegg said. "I see this as a sustainable development solution for Ottawa."

Mr. Pegg wants to build his facility on 100 hectares of low-grade Crown lands that surround the airport, near Armstrong and Limebank roads in Riverside South. The environmentally protected lands have already been designated by the city as suitable for sports fields.

The proposed $25-million project, called the Ottawa Sports Park, is also right in the path of proposed O-Train expansion.

The location is perfect, Mr. Pegg said, for a double-purpose facility to serve as a park 'n ride during the day, and parking for his soccer facility at night.

"I am not asking for a penny from the city," Mr. Pegg said. "I will even chip in for parking."

He said the city is looking at two park 'n ride facilities near his proposed development -- one for a Leitrim Road stop and the other at Bowesville Road.

He wants the city to move one of those to where his soccer park is planned. He says the future of his proposed development hinges on it.

"There is no way that people are going to hop into buses from downtown and come out to play soccer. ... The only way we can make this work is if the city brings the train into that facility."

An O-Train stop would ensure thousands of families from the core could have easy access to the fields. The parking would let families drive to the park.

Mr. Pegg said the fields would be built under a public-private-partnership deal with the city, similar to the Bell Sensplex in Kanata.

Ecoview would build the facilities and the city would sign a long-term lease that would allow city sports teams use of the grounds.

Mr. Pegg said the city is in dire need of more sports fields.

He is no stranger to thinking big. In 1998, he was a key part of a group that opened the Ultimate Sports Park on 16 hectares in Manotick Station.

The park houses one of the world's largest Ultimate Frisbee leagues, with close to 3,000 members. On any given night, more than 80 games of Ultimate can take place at the site.



Soccer Plan Kicked Around
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Page: 2
Section: News
Byline: BY DEREK PUDDICOMBE, OTTAWA SUN

Ottawa may be sitting on land that could be home to one of the largest soccer facilities in the world.

Larry Pegg, owner of Ecoview Developments, has a vision to build a 30-field soccer park on 250 acres of low-grade farmland next to the southern leg of the city's proposed light rail transit route.

If his plan has the appropriate backing, Pegg said soccer players could arrive at the location using the O-Train or by car. Instead of building a separate parking lot, drivers could park in the 1,200-vehicle transit lot.

He says much of the parking lot would be available to drivers after 6 p.m. when most of the commuter crowd was gone.

MONEY SAVER

He also suggested that by realigning the proposed transit route to meet the needs of the facility, it could save the city $30 million.

"The deletion of excessive stations and the integration with the existing park-and-ride and without buying additional corridor, it will save the cost associated with developing the rail component," said Pegg.

But River ward councillor and sports fan Maria McRae said the project can't go forward. Pegg's biggest hurdle is the land he wants is leased by the Ottawa airport and it will never give it up, McRae suggested.

"How can we build it if those who hold the lease won't give it up?" she asked. "It's a great idea -- it's just in the wrong place."

McRae said she would champion a similar facility if it was located elsewhere in the city and meet the proper requirements.

For more information on the park plan, visit ecoview.com.