When the pandemic began, Michael Nakou explored the outdoors and sought a place to enjoy nature.
He came upon the Mabel Davis Conservation Area, located between Bayview Parkway and the Tannery Mall on Davis Drive. Nakou would go on to visit the place daily, documenting its abundance of wildlife through dozens of photos on his Instagram page and using it as part of a family forest school.
With York Region planning to develop affordable housing adjacent to the area, Nakou wants to ensure the forest is protected as the development takes place.
“It’s not about development, it’s not about eyesores, it’s about the ecosystem that exists here,” Nakou said. “There’s not really a voice that exists for that right now in this space.”
York Region put up fencing Aug. 3 around the site of its former headquarters at 62 Bayview Pkwy. It plans to demolish the building and develop 115 to 250 affordable housing units there over the next four years, but the development details have not been made public. The plan has garnered concern from neighbourhood residents.
But the neighbouring Mabel Davis Conservation Area belongs to the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. The seven-hectare natural area has a wide range of wildlife, according to the authority, including birds, rabbits, muskrats, and regionally rare black maple trees. Mabel Davis originally donated the lands to the authority in 1969, after donating the 62 Bayview Pkwy property to York Region in 1953 for public use.
Nakou said he encounters plenty of birds within 50 feet of the edge of the 62 Bayview property. He added that he is concerned about how having more people living there could impact the surrounding area.
“We need housing, I believe it 100 per cent, but it’s about the right kind of housing that works in conjunction with the ecosystem that’s here,” Nakou said. “I’m not sure about how these types of public green spaces can stay as wild and as natural as they can when we develop right here at the foot of the spaces.”
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority spokesperson Susan Jagminas said the organization is copied on all planning applications and trusts the region to respect any opinions it puts forward on protecting the Mabel Davis Conservation Area.
"We are confident that any comments or advice our staff provide on the planning application, when it makes its way to us, will be carried out respecting our input on the protection of the adjacent conservation area," Jagminas said.
York Region has said it recognizes the importance of access to green space, and that it will protect the natural area from the nearby demolition and construction.
“All demolition and construction activity will take place within the fenced area,” the region said. “Regular inspections will ensure the fencing is maintained to continue to protect the natural area.”
The region is also planning a community consultation process starting in the fall about the development to come, though the demolition of the buildings on site is going ahead regardless.
Nakou said he moved to Newmarket from Toronto 12 years ago to enjoy more green spaces. He said he hopes to raise awareness about the conservation area and feels people should be able to experience it freely.
“I’ve seen with my own eyes the wildlife that’s here,” Nakou said. “I just want to make sure there’s protection for them.”
