NS: Aerial adventure park could take tourism to new heights

[TRURO, NS] — Zip lines could be installed at Victoria Park this summer if Truro town council enters into an agreement with a private company.

Martin Laviolette, who owns TreeGO parks in Moncton and Fredericton, presented his plans to create an aerial adventure park to council on Monday. The plan includes an obstacle course of rope bridges, Tarzan ropes and swings, which would be located near Lewis Road in the southwest side of the park. It would also include about six zip lines running high above the park’s gorge and near Jacob’s Ladder.

“That’s really the heart of the park,” said councillor Brian Kinsman. “People go there for peace and quiet (and) to enjoy nature.”

While he admitted the project would be “hugely popular,” Kinsman raised questions about it being the most appropriate location.

“It’s very, very important for the franchise not to disturb any activity in the park itself,” Laviolette assured. “We want to bring something to the park, not take anything out of the park.”

Based on visits at the Moncton and Fredericton locations, the company expects between 20,000 and 25,000 customers annually. It would be open from May until the end of October.

“I am concerned about the precedent we are establishing in terms of the commercialization of Victoria Park,” said Kinsman, who also has concerns about access and parking.

Councillor Greg MacArthur, who is the recreation committee chairman, said the attraction would bring tourists to town with spinoffs for local businesses and create about 15 seasonal jobs.

“They don’t change the outlook of your park, they add to your park,” he said.

“There’s no councillor here that would want to do anything that would impede the usefulness of the park,” added councillor Charles Cox.

Besides the two New Brunswick parks, the company has nine sites in Quebec and one in British Columbia and New York. If the Truro proposal goes forward it would be the largest of the Canadian sites.

The company said if it received the green light from the town, construction would begin on either May 10 or 17 with a completion date for July 1. The company would lease the land from the town, run the business and assume the liability.

MacArthur said a very limited number of trees would be removed to create the park and added the town’s tree technician is in support of the proposal.

Because the park would be spread out it was hard to provide how much space would be needed.

It is expected the town will host a meeting in the near future to get public input.