Ontario's newest provincial park will open on Canada Day
Ontario is planning to open its newest provincial park to the public free of charge on Canada Day as work continues on forming a permanent vision for the site.
The government is in the early stages of building the new urban provincial park in Uxbridge in Durham Region, as announced in its 2023 budget.
Approximately $19 million has been committed to the project so far and officials say that a “preliminary park management plan” will be released to the public in the “coming months.”
Public consultations on the plan would then begin on the plan in the fall.
However, ahead of that, the government will be providing public access to the yet-to-be developed site on Canada Day as it seeks further input.
It says that while there are “no facilities or services offered at the site” and “parking is limited” there are some existing trails that the public will be able to use free of charge.
"The Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park is an incredibly exciting addition to our community. We are grateful for the support from the province and in particular, Minister (Peter) Bethlenfalvy, Minister (Andrea) Khanjin, Minister (David) Piccini, and Premier (Doug) Ford for listening and responding so positively to expand conservation protections and add assets to our local and regional trail network,” Uxbridge Mayor Dave Barton said in a press release. “I can’t wait to see the no trespassing signs removed and these lands open and ready to enjoy by the people of Ontario. This is an enormous opportunity for economic activity in Uxbridge."
The new urban park will sit on up to 1,315 acres of surplus provincially-owned land once complete.
The government says that the development of the site is part of a wider plan to build provincial parks closer to where people live.
Uxbrigde is located just 50 kilometres northeast of downtown Toronto.
“With 83 per cent of Ontario’s growing population located in urban centres, it’s imperative that we build more provincial parks closer to home,” Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Andrea Khanjin said in the release. “The establishment of the Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park marks a significant step in our government’s commitment to expand our park system. I look forward to working with our partners to protect and expand green spaces for future generations to enjoy.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard a terrorist group
Canada will list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, as a terrorist group.
Wife of Toronto gunman says two victims allegedly defrauded family of life savings
The wife of a gunman in a fatal Toronto shooting says he believed the two victims were behind an alleged mortgage investment scheme that defrauded their family.
Why some scientists think extreme heat could be the reason people keep disappearing in Greece
The bodies of those who died still need to be examined to establish the precise cause of death, but authorities are warning people not to underestimate the impacts of the searing temperatures.
Six-year-old boy struck and killed by school bus north of Toronto: police
York Regional Police say a six-year-old boy has died of his injuries after he was struck by a school bus in a residential neighbourhood in Vaughan on Wednesday morning.
Historic building in Italy damaged by parkour tourists
Jumping from building to building in an ancient city might seem like a dream for those who practice parkour — a sport that involves making it past obstacles — but it can cause damage to historic buildings.
Toronto, Montreal among the deadliest cities for Canadian heatwaves, federal research suggests
Toronto and Montreal rank among the deadliest cities for Canadian heat waves, according to a new longitudinal review by Statistics Canada.
'Swimming into the tide': Liberal MPs talk summer strategy as they prepare to hit the doors down in the polls
Preparing to head back to their ridings for the summer, Liberal MPs say that while it's 'not a happy time,' they're gearing up to hit the doorsteps to try to connect with Canadians directly in an effort to turn the tide for their party that's been persistently down in the polls.
Police look to identify 'nudist runner of the woods' caught on camera in western Quebec
The MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais police say the owner of a Val-des-Mont business discovered security camera footage of someone running naked across his property on June 8 around 1:30 a.m.
Oldest wine ever discovered in liquid form found in untouched Roman tomb
A 2,000-year-old funerary urn unearthed in southern Spain has been shown to contain the oldest wine ever found still in liquid form.