Chatham-Kent Officials have completed the first stage of making Rondeau Provincial Park a "Designated Heritage Site."
The authors of the study feel Rondeau Park has cultural links to the early cottaging industry in Ontario, as well as the early development of the park itself. That includes the 285 cottages along the eastern beach of the park, as well as the Visiting Centre to the North.
It's now up to Council whether or not they want to adopt the study and move forward.
While specific changes to property tax benefits haven't been finalized, they're expected to be looked at further when the Conservation District Plan is completed in October. This doesn't guarantee a tax break for cottagers. Since cottage owners pay taxes to the Ministry of Natural Resources, any tax rebate from CK would go to the MNR and not directly to the property owners. The plan will also highlight design guidelines for signage and further renovations.