Over 18 acres of land in the northwest corner of MacGregor Point Provincial Park will soon be under official ownership of the province.
Council declared the property surplus so it can be sold to Ontario Parks.
The land started out as Centennial Park in 1967, set aside by the former Saugeen Township as a project for Canada’s 100th anniversary.
The municipality began leasing the land to the province in 1977 when MacGregor Point Park opened, at a rate of one dollar per year for thirty years.
With the lease now expired, the municipality had the option of renewing it, or selling the land, which has been appraised at over 277 thousand dollars.
Ontario Parks however has secured the funding to buy the land at the appraised amount.
That means Centennial Park will be formally absorbed into MacGregor Point.
Vice Deputy Mayor Doug Gowanlock says when the land was originally set aside in the 1960’s, the plan was to have it used as a park in perpetuity.
He says only one third of the property actually fronts Lake Huron, the rest borders Concession 4.
Gowanlock says if Ontario Parks is willing to look after the land in perpetuity and cover the costs — Saugeen Shores is better off to take the monetary value of the land and put it towards the municipal park system.
Councillor Thead Seaman also says he would like to see the revenue from selling the park go towards the municipal park system.
The Centennial Park area of MacGregor Point includes the day use area and comfort station and part of the Old Shore Road Trail.