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Current Projects
The next Great Lake - 1400km from Windsor to Quebec!
Stretching 720km along the Canadian shores of Lake Ontario and the provincial shores of the St. Lawrence River, the Waterfront Trail connects 41 communities and over 182 parks and natural features. In 2013 the Waterfront Trail will expand westwards along Lake Erie, adding a second Great Lake and 27 new waterfront communities along a signed, mostly on-road route. This work has been accomplished in partnership with communities in south west Ontario, Carolinian Canada Coalition, Transportation Options and Share the Road. In further enhances the vibrant and diverse Waterfront Trail and offers another 620km of wonderful Ontario waterfront to enjoy. Click to see the trail highlights.
Celebrate the opening of the new section of trail in 2013 by riding the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure - Lake Erie Edition. The GWTA is a fully supported recreational bike ride passing through the 27 communities along Lake Erie, Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. Details to be announced soon.
Regeneration In Action!
Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy
The strategy is designed to guide Ontario’s future actions to protect the Great Lakes and recognizes the contribution of the Waterfront Trail in connecting people to their Great Lakes.The document describes current challenges and opportunities facing our Great Lakes. Read the Strategy
At the same time, the province introduced a proposed Great Lakes Protection Act to restore and protect our Great Lakes to keep them drinkable, swimmable and fishable. Learn more about this important piece of legislation.
PRIORITY PROJECTS
With all the improvements on the waterfront, there remain critical priorities for the Waterfront Trail. Establishing an active transportation route to connect Belleville and Trenton, resurfacing the Murray Canal, resurfacing the St. Lawrence Bikeway, and perhaps above all--rerouting the Waterfront Trail through Lynde Shores CA and off the treacherous Bayly/Victoria Road. The Trust continues to bring these priorities to the attention of senior government for consideration.
While the past decade saw hundreds of large and small transformations of the water's edge, the next will witness local communities along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River taking bold steps to improve their waterfronts. Here are some of the initiatives to improve Lake Ontario's waterfront.
Rouge Park Update
Waterfront Trail thrilled to be part of Canada's First National Urban Park
The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is very excited to welcome the addition of the Canada's first National Urban Park to the Waterfront Trail. This achievement is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication by many people, especially the former Rouge Alliance. WRT board member Pauline Browse served on the Alliance and has been fighting for the Rouge since the beginning.
"For the past three decades there has been continuous commitment and hard work by many to protect and preserve the Rouge River watershed, pristine land in the Toronto/Markham area. It was thrilling when the Federal Government announced in the Speech from the Throne, then the federal budget and subsequently specific funding of more than $143 million to establish the Rouge National Urban Park.
The Rouge National Urban Park will be an outstanding benefit to the Ontario and the GTA. It is a wilderness treasure surrounded by a population of seven million people. The economic benefits to the area are tremendous. It’s a show place of beauty, wilderness experiences and the marvel of nature. This is Canada’s first national urban park!"--Pauline Browse
The innovative concept for an urban park represents input from thousands of people who have participated in extensive consultation process. The creation of the Rouge National Urban Park will see the current park boundaries expand by 20%. According to Parks Canada's:
"We envision the building of a “people’s park”; where connections are forged between the people of this great nation and the elements that make us truly Canadian. Rouge National Urban Park will be a place where people can gather, connect, be engaged, be stewards." (Parks Canada website)
The park will further the Trust's goal of waterfront regeneration in a number of ways: "habitat links between terrestrial and aquatic habitat in the Rouge Valley will be maintained to foster connection between Lake Ontario and the Oak Ridge Moraine." (Highlights from the Rouge National Urban Park Update, Parks Canada website).
The David Suzuki Foundation is "keen to help establish Canada's first urban National Park in the Rouge River watershed. The Rouge is a surprisingly intact chunk of forests, fields, and waterways with a rich ecological, cultural and agricultural heritage. The Rouge is poised to become the urban jewel of the National Parks system and will be one of the largest urban parks in the world, 18 times bigger than New York's Central Park." (David Suzuki Foundation)
More information can be found the Parks Canada website at parkscanada.gc.ca/rouge
Cornwall
LEED Gold certified attraction now in Cornwall
Ontario Power Generation’s St. Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre has been awarded Gold LEED classification by the Canada Green Building Council. Read more in the Cornwall Profile Page.
KINGSTON
LAKE ONTARIO PARK--$4.5 M project that will make the park more of an year-round attraction thanks to the addition of an outdoor skating rink, which will serve as a splash pad in the summertime. Work is expected to take about two years, and has been staged to keep the park open for people. Other improvements include new pathways, shoreline and beach improvements, plus a canoe rental business and extended fishing platforms. January 2012
MISSISSAUGA
INSPIRATION LAKEVIEW (FEB 2011)
On February 17, 2011 the City of Mississauaga unveiled the exciting results of its visioning exercise for the 250 acres site formerly occupied by the Lakeview Generating Station. The vision is based on eight guiding principles that recall the nine waterfront principles published in Regeneration. Guided by experts from here and abroad, it is clear that participants unleased their imagination to dream boldly for the future of the site. They call for the creation of a sustainable community that will serve as a model internationally. The Waterfront Trail moves to the water's edge and deep into the vastness of the lake on a refurbished pier. A series of canals offer a variety of shelter boating experiences in warm months and skating in winter. The massive, almost indestructible foundation for the Generating Station remains on site and is the location for a series of temporary art exhibits. It is re-christened the Art Generating Station.
For more information about the City's Waterfront Strategy visit: http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/inspirationlakeview
TORONTO
Waterfront Toronto is leading work that is redefining Toronto's waterfront bringing award-winning designs and new environmental function to an urban waterfront.
Mimico Waterfront Park
The final 500 m of Trail will close a hazardous gap in the Waterfront Trail. Moving trail users off Lakeshore Rd and onto a beautiful trail system. Phase One, which opened in 2008, begins at Norris Crescent Parkette and stretches east to Superior Avenue. Construction of Phase Two, which begins at Superior Avenue and stretches east to Humber Bay Park West, began in July 2011 and is scheduled to open in fall 2012. Toronto Region Conservation Authority is a lead partner on the project. ![[complete]](images/check.gif){kind=small}
Complete! in November 2012
On July 28th, 2008, Waterfront Toronto and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) celebrated the opening of Mimico Waterfront Park – Phase I. |
 Photo: TRCA |
Queen's Quay Boulevard
Waterfront Toronto is transforming this street into an iconic waterfront boulevard that will better accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. It will become the gateway to Toronto's waterfront experience and for many the introduction to the Waterfront Trail.
Water's edge promenade from Sugar Beach to Sherborne Common
Eventually this promenade will extend to Parliament Street. Located at the water's edge, it features landscaping, benches, and a generous promenade and boardwalk.
Port Union Waterfront Trail
Phase One moved the Trail to the water's edge and created new aquatic habitat from Highland Creek to Port Union, very close to the Rouge GO Station. The second phase underway will extend the water's edge experience to the mouth of the Rouge River and the entrance to Pickering's stunning section of Waterfront Trail. Toronto Region Conservation is the lead partner on the project. Project is expected to open Summer of 2012.
Sherborne Common
Completed in 2010. The park features a wide open greenspace, a skating rink that doubles as a splash pad in the summer, a striking zinc-clad Pavilion, and a stunning water channel with three dramatic art sculptures. Sherbourne Common will become a well-used destination for city residents and visitors all year-round. Moreover the park plays an important role in treating the neighbourhood stormwater.
Ajax
SHORELINE IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY--BRINGING SWIMMING BACK TO AJAX
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Ajax once had a thriving beach waterfront-- and so it might once again. The Town has completed an exciting and successful public consultation process to learn what people wanted for the waterfront. To summarize:
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BELLEVILLE
Jane Forrester Park
$15 M project to rejunvenate the park and eliminate the discharge of contaminated run-off into the Bay of Quinte. A Special Public Realm Canadian Urban Institute Brownie was awarded to Meyers Pier Redevelopment from Belleville on November 3, 2010. The contaminated site was renamed Jane Forrester Park and redeveloped into a vibrant public park, with a revitalized marina. It has inspired investment in the area around the park site and helped revitalize the waterfront. Read the Intelligencer article on the award.
TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH DUNDAS--MORRISBURG AND IROQUOIS
The Morrisburg Waterfront Advisory Committee presented their conceptual plan for the waterfront in June 2012, which Montreal-based landscape architect Wendy Graham says “sets out a vision” for the waterfront. The Committee will report to Township Council in the Fall. Elements in the concept plan include getting small boats on the water with the help of a breakwater, more dockside food options, and a lit pathway for walking and biking.
- Phase one includes a focus on the docks and parking
- Phase two looks at creating a splash pad, updating the amphitheater, and improving the beach.
- Phase three proposes extending the waterfront walkway along Hosaic Creek up to County Road Two, and creating the opportunity for residential development between the path and the golf course overlooking the creek. This long-range idea triggered the most debate.
The Morrisburg Waterfront Committee was established by the Council of the Township of South Dundas in June 2011 to investigate and determine a plan for the development of the Morrisburg Waterfront. The Iroquois Waterfront Committee will report its findings in the future. For more information and the presentation to Council visit the Committee's website. [http://www.windowontheriver.com/]
WATERFRONT TRAIL PROJECTS 2010
By the conclusion of 2010 there will be sixteen new improvements and enhancements to the Waterfront Trail. People are so excited about the additions that they are sending photos to the Trust. A special congratulations to Cobourg Town Council and the Fullerton Family for reaching an exciting agreement setting the stage for a extension of the Trail at the water's edge.
1. Grimsby Peace Park
2. Pedestrian Bridge over QEW in Hamilton (connecting Waterfront Trail to Red Hill Valley Trail)
3. Lakeside Park Restoration, Mississauga
4. Trail Resurfacing through JC Saddington Park, Mississauga
5. Waterfront Trail improvements at Ontario Place, Toronto
6. Wave Decks, Toronto
7. Sugar Beach, Toronto
8. Sherbourne Park, Toronto
9. Signed Route through Eastern Toronto (Scarborough)
10. First Nation's Gateway, Pickering
11. Carruthers Marsh Pavilion, Ajax
12. Resurfacing of Trail from Anstead Crescent to Pickering Beach Road, Ajax
13. Lakefront West Park, Oshawa
14. Expansion of the waterfront boardwalk west to Hibernia Street, Cobourg
15. Frontenac Arch Biosphere receives Geotourism Charter from National Geographic Society’s Centre for Sustainable Destinations.
16. Improvements to Charlottenburgh Park, Township of South Glengarry
St Catharines
WATERFRONT TRAIL EXTENSION ALONG PORT WELLER SPIT--COMPLETE!
| Niagara Region and the City of St.Catharines have partnered
to develop a 2.7 km extension to the Waterfront Trail in Port Weller.
The water’s edge trail will extend along the Port Weller Spit
to a scenic lookout, where users will be treated to spectacular views
of Lake Ontario. The new trail will also complete the Welland Canal
Trail, which is part of the Greater Niagara Circle Route. Construction
is expected to begin in spring of 2008. Complete! |
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Hamilton
HAMILTON RECEIVES FUNDING FOR BRIDGE OVER QEW
| On March 28th, the Ontario government
announced that Hamilton will receive $14 million in funding to create
a Recreational Trail Hub and Waterfront Link, which will include
a signature pedestrian bridge across the QEW between Burlington
Street and Centennial Parkway. The Trail and Waterfront Link will
increase public access to the waterfront, create more opportunities
for recreation and leisure, foster tourism, restore natural habitat
and ultimately enhance the image of Hamilton.
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 Proposed bridge design |
SIGNING SCARBOROUGH WATERFRONT TRAIL
One of the most significant gaps in the Waterfront Trail just got a whole lot smaller. As you know the long-term goal for the Waterfront Trail is to create a dedicated route as close to the water’s edge as is environmentally feasible. In Scarborough, such an alignment is decades away, necessitating the creation of a street-based interim route that connects Toronto and Durham.
Thanks to Councillor Paul Ainslie and the City of Toronto’s Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure Department, Waterfront Trail signs have been installed from Bellamy Road to the Rouge River Park this June (2008). The route offers cyclists and walkers a lovely tour of residential streets, avoiding Kingston Road, and links them to the wonderful Port Union Waterfront Trail-Phase One, which was completed by Toronto Region Conservation in 2006. Phase Two began earlier this year and once completed (2011) will establish a waterfront trail from the Port Union GO station to the mouth of the Rouge River.
In addition and thinking more long-term, the Toronto Region Conservation
Authority is leading a public consultation process to create a plan for
the Scarborough waterfront. The Trust has participated in stakeholder
consultations to date and looks forward to working with the TRCA on the
Scarborough Section of Waterfront Trail. Complete!
Whitby
IMPROVEMENTS ON THE WAY FOR BAYLY STREET
Major improvements are on the way for the notorious stretch of Trail along Bayly Rd in Whitby. This stretch along Bayly Street has been a long-standing area of concern for the Trust and Waterfront Trail users due to the high vehicle speeds, narrow shoulders and dangerous bridge crossing. The Region of Durham is moving forward in its plans to widen Bayly Street between Ajax and Whitby, including a 3m wide off-road trail on the south side of Bayly which will connect to the existing Waterfront Trail at Halls Road in the West and to Whitby Shores Greenway in the east. These improvements, which also include a viewing platform on the south side of the bridge overlooking the Lynde Shores Conservation Area, will improve the quality, safety and comfort of this stretch for Trail users.
Loyalist
CRCA PLANS LAND ACQUISITION
The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) has announced plans to raise $1 million to buy a substantial portion of the Bayview Wetland, west of Kingston. The CRCA will buy 700 acres with help from its fund-raising arm, the Cataraqui Conservation Foundation, and community partners including Loyalist Township. This is a highly desirable property acquisition since it is located along an inland corridor linking Parrott’s Bay to Collins Bay/Lemoine Point. The CRCA is hopeful that a trail loop might someday link the Bayview property to the Waterfront Trail, along Lake Ontario.
South Glengarry
EASTERN GATEWAY TO ONTARIO’S WATERFRONT TRAIL RECEIVES FUNDING
Canada Build Funding secured to establish the Waterfront Trail and Greenway from Lancaster to Curry Hill
The Township of South Glengarry secured $2.6 million from the Canada Build program to establish the Waterfront Trail and Greenway from Lancaster to Curry Hill. With a local contribution of $1.3 million, this amounts to a total investment of $3.9 million. The project will significantly improve the safety and quality of the experience for people using Ontario’s Waterfront Trail and Greenway. Further, since the Waterfront Trail now connects directly to Quebec’s 4,300 km cycling system, la Route verte, the County’s project will also greatly enhance Ontario’s “front door” for visitors arriving from Quebec.
The project involves the full rehabilitation of the road surface and the installation of generous two-metre bike lanes and signage on both sides of a 12 km section of the South Service Roadway. With its completion one of the few remaining gaps in the Waterfront Trail east of Cornwall will be closed. The project is expected to start in June 2009 and will be completed in late fall 2009.
Making the Connections: Welcome Kiosk at the Border Complete
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Last July the Trust announced funding from the Ministry of Tourism to install trail signage and construct a welcome kiosk at the border of Ontario and Quebec. The Township of South Glengarry has completed construction of the kiosk and trailhead signs will be installed in the structure in the spring. The funding also included the installation of blue tourism signs promoting both the Waterfront Trail and la Route verte on the road at the border of Ontario and Quebec. Click here for more info. |
Together the two projects —the kiosk and the installation of the
bike lanes will provide trail users with a well marked, safe and welcoming
eastern gateway to Ontario’s Waterfront Trail.
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