Olmsted Natural Open Space preservation plan nearly complete

By Gord Bowes, News staff

Work to preserve a central Mountain archeological site could be completed next year. Cynthia Graham, the city landscape architect overseeing the project at Olmsted Natural Open Space, said a consultant is working on an archeological management plan to submit to the province. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport must approve then approve the plan. I will move forward with it as quickly as I can and my hope is that it can be done next year, said Graham. The long-term plan is for preservation in situ, she said. If approved, the site will be capped in such a way that mitigates the chance of items coming to the surface through natural freeze-thaw cycles. A layer of soil on top will allow for a mix of non-invasive native and prairie plants to be established. The long-term plan is for there to be meadow on that site. Its not going to be short, cut turf at any time, said Graham. Whats out there now is not the end game for us. The Olmsted is in the Ryckmans neighbourhood, north of Rymal and east of Upper James. It is essentially a field of weeds with an asphalt pathway that runs through it from Dicenzo Drive to Tevere Place. Area residents have complained that the weeds provide shelter for nuisances such as ticks and coyotes. At a meeting of residents last week organized by councillor Scott Duvall, a public health official said there is no reason to fear contracting Lyme disease, saying the type of tics found there do not carry the disease. Graham said the coyote factor should be taken care of with the the final plan for the site and new housing in the area. The city does not disclose what artifacts were found at the site. In a 1994 newsletter, the Ontario Archaeological Society Inc. said the artifacts date back to a 13th century Iroquoian settlement. First Nations officials have told the city they do not want the site highlighted in any way.

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Olmsted Natural Open Space preservation plan nearly complete