MOE okays Crooks’ dam demolition

Queen’s Park is being accused of favouring fins over feet, after approving the proposed demolition of the dam at Crooks’ Hollow Conservation Area.

Greensville resident Kenneth Blackwell, who has helped lead the fight to preserve the dam and the scenic pond it created, said the decision will result in “a tremendous social and aesthetic loss” to the surrounding community. His request for a more detailed assessment of the project was rejected by Environment Minister John Gerretsen, who gave the Hamilton Conservation Authority the okay to demolish the dam in a May 13 letter made public last week. Two other residents had also asked for more study.

“It’s very obvious they put fish before people. The big achievement of all of this will be to allow fish to swim from Webster’s Falls park up to Christie’s dam, instead of being stopped by Crooks’ Hollow dam,” Blackwell said.

“It’s obvious that the reservoir’s the centerpiece for the visual interest there. People stand on the dam and they don’t look at the dam; they look at the reservoir.”