A directional sign at Harrison Park in Owen Sound. (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting News)
There were mixed responses and no action taken by Owen Sound’s operations committee on a request to consider expanding the city’s bus service into Harrison Park.
Board chair of the Harrison Park Seniors’ Centre Joan Harris spoke to the operations committee during its meeting on Oct. 16 and came with an ask to have the city bus route that stops at the Harrison Park gate revised, to instead make a trip into the park and stop near the restaurant.
“How does the City of Owen Sound improve accessibility to Harrison Park for people of all ages? There is one major limitation that prevents so many people from enjoying the services, opportunities and programs available at the beautiful park,” Harris says. “And that is the lack of bus service into the park.”
A 2021 Owen Sound Transit Route Optimization study completed for the city by consultants mentions surveys found direct service to Harrison Park was a common issue. It mentions the park is currently served by the city’s crosstown route, with a stop outside it at the gates. But entering Harrison Park for a drop-off near the restaurant would add about two-kilometres of travel for bus users and represent “a significant detour for riders travelling the western portion of the route to downtown.”
The study recommended looking at a special shuttle service during special events at Harrison Park or high demand seasons. It estimated such a service could cost anywhere between $25,000-$50,000.
Owen Sound’s operations committee did not pass any motions after receiving the delegation and request to extend the city’s bus service into Harrison Park.
Owen Sound Deputy Mayor and Operations Committee Chair Scott Greig says this would be a service level enhancement and he believes it would be difficult for the city to accommodate.
“Unless you can come up with different areas where you’re going to cut funding, then this is a new level of service that’s going to be funded by the general taxpayer,” Greig says.
Coun. Carol Merton spoke about the importance of accessibility to public facilities, and suggested the Harrison Park bus service issue could be looked at again in future — after committee members reviewed the 2021 transit study.
Some ridership numbers were shared by staff to the committee. They were told just over 200 people took the crosstown bus route in Owen Sound to the stop outside Harrison Park between October 2024 and September 2025. Committee members were also told that doesn’t necessarily mean those riders were all entering the park, some could have been heading to other nearby destinations or their homes.