Waterfront Regeneration Trust
2010-2015 Business Plan

Goal

Complete, help restore, and market the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail and Greenway.

Operating Principles

• Promote the regeneration of the Lake Ontario waterfront, primarily through the Waterfront Trail program
  
• Develop partnerships to achieve our goals; especially with waterfront municipalities and conservation authorities
  
• Develop programs that reflect needs and funding
  
• Be self-sustaining
  

3-Step Action Plan

Step 1: Complete and Enhance the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail and Greenway

1. Coordinate the next phase of investment in the waterfront.

   Under this program, the Trust and partners have identified 25 projects that together address safety issues, move the trail closer to the water's edge, add new connections and extend regional connections to the Trail, add new parks, bridges and other improvements particularly around habitat restoration and heritage interpretation. The program is before the Provincial government for consideration for funding.
   

2. Work with partners to address some of the more challenging issues facing the Trail.

   Creating an active transportation route from Trenton to Belleville, moving the Trail off of Bayly/Victoria Rd in Durham, resurfacing Murray Canal in Quinte West are among the areas that require attention in the coming years.

Step 2: Market the Waterfront Trail

In 2008, the Trust and its partners launched The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure--an 8-day fully-supported cycling tour of the entire Waterfront Trail from Niagara to Quebec. The GWTA has been instrumental in raising the profile of the Waterfront Trail as a premier fitness and recreation and provincial tourism attraction not only to Ontarians but to Americans and other Canadian provinces. The GWTA will be part of the WRT marketing program until 2012 when we will evaluate our progress and determine next steps. In addition to serving as an effective marketing campaign, the GWTA has proved to be an innovative public engagement strategy.

Updating the Trust web site and the mapping for the Waterfront Trail:
People interested in the Trail need the most up-to-date information to plan their visit…or to get involved. We'll be updating the material to include the latest on the expansion, more maps, distances, access points, attractions, accommodations and information on vendors with tour packages.

Step 3: Encourage Ongoing Regeneration of the Waterfront

Coordinating and supporting a strong network of waterfront communities.
The Trust's waterfront network -- over 45 communities, conservation authorities, regions and community groups -- has become an effective way for professionals to share information and experiences and to coordinate activities. We will expand teach and learn opportunities that use the Trail as venue to deepen our understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the waterfront. In the coming years, we will explore management models for the Waterfront Trail's Future.

Developing a constituency of informed trail users who will advocate for regeneration.

Speaking out for waterfront regeneration
By supporting community plans for regeneration within the provincial/municipal land use planning process. In the coming years there will be extraordinary opportunities on the waterfront as former industrial uses vacate premier lakefront property. For example:

• Niagara-on-the-Lake--Formerly Department of National Defence Rifle Range
• Hamilton--West Harbour Lands
• Burlington's Eastern Waterfront
• Mississauga--site of the former Lakeside Generating Station
• Toronto--massive re-invention of the central downtown waterfront and Port Lands
• Pickering--site of the Pickering Generating Station
• Oshawa Harbour
• Port Hope--Central Pier Redevelopment
• Cornwall, site of former Domtar

Many communities are developing waterfront plans in the coming years. We will work with partners to ensure that there is provision for the Waterfront Trail.