Friends of Moccasin Lake press city for timeline on newly acquired meadow and lake dredging

Jason Mastrochietro, president of Friends of Moccasin Lake, asked the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on July 22 for updates on two items: (1) a 3–3.5 acre property acquired off Evenwood Street intended to be integrated with park trails and meadow, and (2) plans to dredge Moccasin Lake, which has been filling with silt and vegetation.
Mastrochietro said the newly acquired property could become trail-connected parkland with dilapidated buildings removed and a meadow planted with wildflowers. He also asked whether equipment purchases discussed at a July 10 City Council meeting—two pieces described in the council agenda as pond maintenance equipment including a digging implement and a boat from Rideau Green Boat, Inc.—might be used for Moccasin Lake work.
Mike, a Parks and Recreation staff member, told the board the dredging and equipment questions are now under Public Works’ purview. He said public works had contacted Parks staff about trails related to a dredging plan and that he would reach out to Matt and public works to establish a clearer timeline. Regarding the meadow property, Mike said he and other staff visited the site roughly three weeks earlier to determine which buildings should be removed for safety; some structures have been used by the fire department for training. He said building removal is the first step, followed by trail routing and eventual wildflower planting, and estimated “at least six months” before the meadow work would be complete.
Discussion vs. decision: The conversation occurred during public comment and staff follow-up. No formal council vote or project approval was recorded at the advisory board meeting. Mike said the dredging effort is being coordinated by Public Works and that Parks staff will work with public works and Matt to obtain a timeline and budget information.
Ending: Staff agreed to add meadow status and dredging timelines to future project reports and to provide regular updates to the board.