Newsletter: June 6, 2022 💫

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Newsletter: June 6th, 2022

Announcement of events from the Social Committee

The social committee is thrilled to advise the park will once again provide us with $10,000.00 for our events, and we get to choose the events! If you want to be part of the decision making please join us at our next meeting.

To kick us off this year we will be having a Wine and Cheese on Saturday June 11th, from 7-8:30 in La Barn. There will be sign up sheets available for volunteering for various events and with a few more people we can run a pancake breakfast on July 3rd.

On June 18th we will be having our first dance featuring Windy Ridge. The hours will be 9-11:30 but can be modified for the future.

We are also exploring a number of activities for the kids.

If you are interesting in running an event please give us an outline and a proposed budget and we can provide the funds. Email: stewartjackie@rogers.com If you are on FB did you know we the campers have a Sandaraska Park Campers and friends. Ask to join if you are interested.

Looking forward to seeing you on the 11th!

- Jackie Stewart, Social Committee Treasurer

Pool update!

Get your swim trunks and floaties ready because we are ON TRACK to open the pool for the usual June 15th!!!
There will not be a lifeguard on duty.

Reminder for parents with children in the park...
Over the weekend, two OPP officers came into the park because children dialed 911 on the payphone by the pool. Please take the opportunity this afternoon to have a conversation with your children about the repercussions of these actions.

Though it seems like a harmless prank, we are located in a rural area, so the officers drove in from Lindsay. This is a needless waste of resources for the first responders when they could otherwise be attending to serious events.

It is vitally important that children know they can reach 911 in the case of an emergency and that they understand what an emergency actually is. The pay phone remains by the pool for emergencies and 911 can be dialed there at any time, even without any money paid to the phone.

Please remember also that you are responsible for the actions and behaviour of your children and guests when in Sandaraska Park. Consider this a warning that the OPP can and will press charges against individuals responsible for abusing the ability of dialing 911. Thank you for taking the time to explain this to your children!

Post-storm updates
From our maintenance team:
Martin and his crew want to pass along a great big THANK YOU to everyone in the park who has helped with clearing brush and branches since the storm. The catastrophic damage is far easier to manage when we band together, so this had made a huge impact and we are incredibly grateful!

Site clean up:
We are receiving inquiries on how residents should be dealing with branches and debris. Please pile up small branches, twigs, and brush at the end of your site and the crew will collect them sporadically. For any large branches, downed trees, or half-fallen limbs still suspended, please leave them and await for us to come address them. We WILL get to it, but we are obviously working on a priority-based process and appreciate your patience as we work our way around the park.

Sandaraska trails:
All of the trails on Sandaraska Park property are now open! The Ganaraska trails remain closed as they deal with severe damage (see below).

For our campers!
Anyone planning to explore the Ganaraska during their stay:
We know that packing up your horses or dirt bikes and ATV's for a few days of riding is something you are looking forward to doing, but the GRCA has shut down the forest and trails (see below for info).

We are happy to work with our guests in either cancelling or rescheduling their reservation due to the closures. We do not know how long the trails will be closed, but are in touch with upcoming reservations every week to make sure our guests are aware. The trails on Sandaraska Park property are now open!

GANARASKA TRAILS REMAIN CLOSED

The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority has asked us to pass along the following information:

On Saturday May 21, 2022 a massive storm system caused significant damage to the Ganaraska Forest and its entire trail network (West Central and East Forests are all affected).
The current situation in the Ganaraska Forest is very serious and extremely dangerous.
The GRCA and Police are strictly enforcing the closure of the Ganaraska Forest and NO ACCESS is being granted until further notice.
The Ganaraska Forest is extremely dangerous with hazard trees and significant blockages throughout the entire trail network of the Ganaraska Forest (West, Central and East Forests).
Please respect any form of barriers and signage that is blocking access and DO NOT cross these barriers.
All Special Events are cancelled for the foreseeable future. No new applications will be accepted.
Updates will be provided through the Ganaraska Conservation Facebook page, www.grca.on.ca and www.ganaraskaforestcentre.ca.
Staff are currently assessing the entire Ganaraska Forest trail network and Trail clearing work is underway.
As assessment and trail clearing continues, recovery plans are being created.

They have also asked us to thank you for your support and patience during this trying time. Monitor the GRCA Facebook page for more updates!

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Our mailing address is:

Sandaraska Park

156 Sandaraska Road

Pontypool, On L0A 1K0

Canada

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