THUNDER BAY - Over one hundred acres of greenspace near Boulevard Lake could be in danger, as a local volunteer group said the provincial government has plans to turn the area into a housing development.

THUNDER BAY - Over one hundred acres of greenspace near Boulevard Lake could be in danger, as a local volunteer group said the provincial government has plans to turn the area into a housing development.

Friends of the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital Greenspace held an open house earlier this evening to share the province's plans with the public.

The greenspace behind the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital could soon be turned into homes.

At a public meeting earlier this evening, Friends of the LPH Greenspace spoke to around three dozen residents about plans for the provincially owned parcel of land.

Friends of the LPH Greenspace said they've used Freedom of Information requests to obtain Infrastructure Ontario plans for future development of the land.

This open house was to share those plans with local residents.

Drafted in 2013, the three plans illustrate in detail how the space could be converted for residential housing of various densities. While many understood the need for urban infill, trading greenspace for homes was an unpopular idea.

Many were also upset that Infrastructure Ontario never shared these plans with local residents.

Others pointed out that the greenspace plays an important role in regulating stormwater runoff and is a part of the Boulevard Lake water system that cannot be easily built-over.

Friends of the LPH Greenspace representatives have already delivered a 750 signature petition to Michael Gravelle, but are encouraging people to write to various levels of government, to encourage further public consultation in the future.

(TBT NEWS)