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

November 2005

In this issue:
• Port Union Project Update
• Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation’s Waterfront Trail Update
• Waterfront Trail Tale

Upcoming Conferences and Community Events:
• Hamilton Harbour Fisheries Management Plan 2nd Public Open House
• Rouge Park’s 3rd Annual Winter Bird Count
• Friend’s of Second Marsh’s Wetland Stomp

Port Union Project Update

The Port Union Waterfront Improvement Project has just released their fall newsletter, which offers an update on the exciting work being done along the Scarborough waterfront. The project, which began in 2002, is a multi-faceted revitalization project designed to provide the public with easy, continual access to the waterfront between Highland Creek and Rouge River in Scarborough. Among the activities included in the plans are: shoreline protection, creation of a cobble beach, and regeneration and protection of existing natural habitats.

Also included in the project is the construction of a section of the Waterfront Trail through the park, which will link up with the existing trail to the east of Rouge River. We are all excited about the completion of this section since it will be a big step towards closing the gap in Scarborough which currently spans from the Eastern Beaches to the Rouge River.

The project is currently in phase I, which involves construction on the headland beach system, the Waterfront Trail and a bridge at the mouth of Highland Creek. This phase will be open to the public in 2006. Phase II, which involves the completion of the headland beach system and waterfront trail, will be open to the public in 2008.

For further information regarding the Port Union Waterfront Improvement Project please visit: www.trca.on.ca/water_protection/strategies/lakeontario. If you have specific questions regarding the project or if you would like to be added to the project mailing list, please contact: Nancy Gaffney at (416) 661-6600, ext. 5313 or email ngaffney@trca.on.ca.

Toronto’s Waterfront Trail Improvement Project Update

On Wednesday Nov. 23rd, Nikki Rendle from the Trust office attended a public meeting hosted by the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC) focusing on improvements to Toronto’s Waterfront Trail. Attendees of the meeting were given an update on the first phase of the project planned for Leslie St. in the east and at Marilyn Bell Park in the west.

The improvements at Leslie St. and Unwin Ave. will involve the creation of a new section of asphalt mulit-use trail, a new orientation/ seating node and the addition of new trees and planting beds as part of an effort to “green” up the area. Phase I of the greening process is already underway.
The plans for Marilyn Bell Park call for promenade improvements, including a 7 metre wide asphalt multi-use pathway, a 4 metre wide boardwalk, new seating, lighting and ornamental planting. Construction is also currently underway for a bypass trail around the park, which is scheduled to be unveiled in spring of 2006.

For further information on these and other TWRC projects, visit their website at www.towaterfront.ca.

Waterfront Trail Tale

We recently received an email from another successful end-to-ender, relating the details of his journey along the Waterfront Trail. His story indicates the effectiveness of signage in creating awareness about the Trail. Stephen Hay first found out about the Waterfront Trail from cycling along the Toronto section where he spotted a few of the 21 trailhead signs installed this past summer and decided to take on the end-to-end challenge. Stephen completed the trip in two legs: the first from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto and the second, from Toronto to Brockville. Not satisfied to end there, however, our tireless cyclist continued on to the Quebec border and beyond, passing through Montreal and ending up in Grande Vallee, Quebec for a total of 15 travel days.

Stephen told us that he collected all of the information for planning his trip on the Trail from the Trust’s website (www.waterfronttrail.org), where he was able to download the trail web maps. Along the route he was able to access information from maps posted by the sides of the trail in the local communities. He found that details shown on the maps such as locations of washroom and campgrounds and other places to stay were very helpful to his trip planning.

Stephen’s example offers some helpful tips for the end to ender looking for different types of accommodation. Instead of B&B’s and hotels Stephen booked overnight accommodations at universities and campgrounds, spending his first night at McMaster University. He also camped at Darlington Provincial Park, Cobourg East Campground, Adolphustown Loyalist Park and a campground in Brockville. On the last leg of the trip from Brockville to Grand Vallee, he camped on most of the 9 days, returning to Toronto via bus.

We salute your cycling endurance, Stephen, and congratulate you on becoming our newest end-to-ender.

Upcoming Conferences and Community Events:

Hamilton Harbour Fisheries Management Plan- 2nd Public Open House
The 2nd Public Open House for the Hamilton Harbour Fisheries Management Plan is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 6th, 2005. This represents the second round of public consultations, following a series of successful public open houses in the summer of 2005. The open house will allow members of the public to hear the results of the first round of public consultations and to comment on the proposed goals, objectives and management zones for the plan. The open house will take place from 7-9 pm at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

For more information, please contact Kellie McCormack at (905) 527-1158, ext. 242 or email kmccormack@rbg.ca.

Rouge Park’s 3rd Annual Winter Bird Count
Rouge Park’s 3rd Annual Winter Bird Count is scheduled for Sunday, January 8th, 2006. The event has developed into a tradition across North America and has become a valuable tool for promoting the understanding and appreciation for conservation. The event is open to all volunteers, from experienced birders to people who simply have an interest in the park and its birds. You can even participate from home, as volunteers are also needed to count and report birds in their back yards.

For more info or to register contact Vicki MacDonald at 905.713.7729 or e-mail birdcount@rougepark.com. You can also visit www.rougepark.com for more info.

Friends of Second Marsh’s Wetland Stomp
The Wetland Stomp 2006 will be held on Saturday February 25, 2006 to help raise funds for the construction of the Great Lakes Wetlands Centre at Second Marsh in Oshawa. The event will be held in the newly renovated Jubilee Pavillion in Oshawa and will feature an array of fun activities such as live and silent auctions and a drum ceremony. The featured guest will be the Hon. David Crombie who will be honoured for his contribution to the establishment of the Waterfront Trail.

Tickets are for the event are $75, and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Marilyn Cole, Friends of Second Marsh, at (905) 723-5459 or email campaign.secondmarsh@rogers.com.

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

Visit www.waterfronttrail.org to download 90 online colour maps of the Waterfront Trail, from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Brockville!

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.