Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail News

An Ezine Produced by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust

CIBC* COIP*The Lake Ontario waterfront municipalities, conservation authorities and community groups*The Eastern Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Waterfront Working Group MapArt* Niagara Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club* Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee St. Lawrence Cement* Tilley Endurables

March 2005

In this issue:

• Bike Show Success
• Harbourfront Centre Water’s Edge Revitalization Project
• Website Content Updates
• New Trail Maintenance Manual Available
• March’s Featured Community Group: Rattray Marsh Protection Association
• Upcoming Events:
  • Gibraltar Sand Dune Restoration 1, Sunday April 24, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Ride for the Rouge, Saturday May 14th
  • Hamilton Harbour Boat Tours
  • May’d in Canada Bike Tour 2005

Bike Show Success

This year’s show proved to be another successful event. We sold over 150 mapbooks, distributed hundreds of brochures and talked to lots of people about the Trail. Highlights of the booth were the new colour maps of the Trail and the trailhead signs we had on display. Also new at this year’s booth was a short opinion poll on the Trail. We wanted to find out what cyclists think of the Trail and thought what better way to find out than to survey the cyclists themselves. The results indicate:

• 91% had cycled on the Trail
• 72% had visited other communities using the Trail
• 18% regularly commute using the Trail
• The cyclists were most likely to have found out about the Trail from signage (33%) and word of mouth (31%)
• 24% had visited the Trust’s website in the past year – of those who had visited, 88% found the site helpful
• While on vacation 77% bring their bikes, 15% rent, 45% explore the area by bike, 49% use the local trail system by bike, 38% research bike opportunities ahead of time
• 76% would be interested in going on a cycling vacation on the Trail.

The results from the sample confirm that adequate, consistent signage on the Trail is important not only for navigation but also to create awareness. The results also demonstrate that the majority of cyclists partake in cycling activities on vacation and there is interest for developing the tourism potential of the Trail.

Harbourfront Centre Water’s Edge Revitalization Project

The Harbourfront Centre in partnership with the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corp (TWRC) is completing phase II of its construction on the revitalization of the York and John Quays in Toronto. The completed project will include a widening of the water’s edge promenade to 12 m, addition of a 5 m wide wooden boardwalk adjacent to the south promenade, construction of floating piers, new lighting and street furniture installation. As one of the most popular spots to visit in Toronto the project will increase public access and enjoyment of Lake Ontario.

For more information go to: www.towaterfront.ca/thirdnavloader.php?first=3e9112548cd89&second=3e9ba9dc309fc&third=3eb2a60d420aa

Website Content Updates

Starting in April the Trust will be updating our online trail information including the community profiles, webmaps, and listings of waterfront festivals – just in time for summer! Michelle Closson will be joining the Trust team to update the information and will be contacting all of our waterfront partners shortly to collect any new information. Michelle can be contacted at info@wrtrust.com.

New Trail Maintenance Manual Available

The Grand Concourse Authority has been dedicated to creating an integrated 120km walkway system for the cities of St. John’s, Mount Pearl and the Town of Paradise. Civic planners across Canada have recognized their standards and use of technology as among the finest in North America.

As part of a broad maintenance management system, the Grand Concourse Authority has developed a Walkway Maintenance Manual designed to assist trail organizations with their maintenance responsibilities. By taking a preventative approach to maintenance, user satisfaction is preserved, quality is maintained and landowners are protected from liability. The manual includes:

• Descriptions of appropriate walkway maintenance procedures for virtually every landscape maintenance task;
• Outlines each procedure in a step-by-step fashion;
• Outlines the labor, equipment, materials, and productivity rates for planning and budgeting purposes
• Designed specifically for use in the field. Written on tyvek paper, the Manual is tear proof and water resistant.

For more information on the Walkway Maintenance Manual contact the Grand Concourse Authority at info@grandconcourse.ca or visit their website at http://www.grandconcourse.ca/

March’s Featured Community Group: Rattray Marsh Protection Association

With spring finally here it’s a great time to get outside and re-connect with nature. Along the waterfront there are a number of community groups working hard to regenerate and revitalize natural areas on the shore of Lake Ontario. Over the next few months we’ll be using the ezine to feature different community groups and their volunteer opportunities. Each month we’ll profile a different group and post their contact information in the You Can Help section of our website: www.waterfronttrail.org/youcanhelp.html.

This month’s group is the Rattray Marsh Protection Association.

Located along Mississauga’s section of Waterfront Trail west of Southdown Road, adjacent to Jack Darling Park, Rattray Marsh is the last remaining lakefront marsh between Toronto and Burlington. The marsh is home to a variety of wildlife as well as wildflowers and tree species. The Credit Valley Conservation Authority along with local residents and other groups has implemented several trail upgrades in order to preserve the area’s many sensitive features such as raised platforms and interpretive boardwalks. The Rattray Marsh Protection Association is a volunteer group, which assists with care and protection of Rattray Marsh in cooperation with Credit Valley Conservation. The group organizes clean-up events for the marsh and improves pathways, plants, trees, etc.
Upcoming volunteer opportunities include:

• Annual Spring Clean-up, Saturday April 16, 2005 – 9am to noon
• Summer Volunteer Days, one Sunday a month starting in May – 9am to noon

In addition the Assoociation will be hosting an Interpretive Walk, Sunday May 8th and September 25

For more information please contact the Rattray Marsh Protection Association at 905-823-1572 or Dave Beaton, Credit Valley Conservation 905-670-1615 x 227 or email stewardship@creditvalleycons.com.

Next Month’s Feature: Friends of Second Marsh

Upcoming Events:

Gibraltar Sand Dune Restoration 1, Sunday April 24, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Join the Toronto Bay Initiative as they kick off the spring season with their ongoing restoration of the Gibraltar Point sand dune ecosystem. They’ll pick up from where they left off in 2004, planting sand-hugging shrubs on what, just a year ago, was a barren wasteland. Everyone is welcome.

For more information and to register contact Toronto Bay Initiative at 416-598-2277

Ride for the Rouge, Saturday May 14th

The Rouge Valley Foundation is organizing its 12thannual ride for the Rouge bike challenge. Two route options, 25km and 50km take riders on quiet city streets and scenic country roads around the Rouge Valley. There will be a free lunch, entertainment and prizes. All proceeds go to the Rouge Valley Foundation for education and rehabilitation projects.

For more information and to obtain a pledge form visit: www.rivernen.ca or call 416-282-8265.

Hamilton Harbour Boat Tours

Beginning in May the Hamilton Waterfront Trust will be offering boat tours of the Hamilton Harbour. The Hamilton Harbour Queen is making its maiden voyage this spring. The three hour cruises will tour the Hamilton Harbour including the western shoreline, alive with nature, marinas and on-site attractions. The Hamiltonian Tour Boat offers a leisurely one hour guided tour of the harbour. The boats dock at 47 Guise Street East, adjacent to the new Williams Coffee Pub and the Canada Marine Discovery Centre.

For more information call 905-525-4498 or visit www.hamiltonwaterfront.com

May’d in Canada Bike Tour 2005

Urban Expeditions has created a 3-day, 2-night bike experience from May 27th to 29th. The trip involves a program of three cycling outings in the Toronto area and one in Niagara Region. Shuttles will take participants from Toronto to Pelham Estates Winery in Niagara.

For more information contact Urban Expeditions at 416.606.7227 or visit their website at http://www.urbanexpeditions.com/bike_week/

Cheers!
Vicki Barron, Executive Director;
Marlaine Koehler, Program Director;
and Nikki Rendle, Editor Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail News

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust
372 Richmond Street West, Suite 308
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 1X6
Tel: 416-943-8080
Fax: 416-943-8068
Email: nr@wrtrust.com
www.waterfronttrail.org

Purchase your copy of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail Mapbook at Mountain Equipment Co-op (400 King Street West) and Sporting Life Stores in Toronto (1-877-772-2262 to find a store location near you).

Thank You to our Supporters!:

• CIBC
• The Lake Ontario waterfront municipalities, conservation authorities and community groups
• The Eastern Lake Ontario­St.Lawrence Waterfront Working Group
• MapArt
• Niagara Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club
• Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee
• St. Lawrence Cement
• Tilley Endurables
• The Trust would also like to thank the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP) for its generous support of the 51 projects that comprise the Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program.