The Meadoway, 200ha

[Northern Light]

Blog post on The Meadoway.

East Don Trail Part 2 & The Meadoway

A blog about cycling and political advocacy based in Toronto, Canada. (#BikeTO)

www.twowheeledpolitics.ca

Good find.

Robert Z. even got a few tidbits I didn't have on future timing.

Though oddly he missed a couple one large bit.

****

UT already knows what he missed (I've provided that in the past) so I'll offer the updates he obtained, that I did not have.

Well, this first bit I knew:

It was budgeted for delivery this year, hopefully Mx doesn't manage to delay the work past the opening of the LRT....

 

[Northern Light]

The Garden Club project for the Meadoway (west side of Pharmacy) is underway.

Photos:

Source, the TRCA's FB page, here:

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority | Toronto ON

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto, Ontario. 11,380 likes · 555 talking about this · 89 were here. Our mission is to protect, conserve and restore natural resources and develop...

www.facebook.com

 

[Northern Light]

Trail construction on the Military Trail to Morningside section circa June 10th, 2024 - Credit to TRCA:

From: https://www.facebook.com/themeadoway

 

[Coolibop]

Trail construction on the Military Trail to Morningside section circa June 10th, 2024 - Credit to TRCA:

View attachment 574035
From: https://www.facebook.com/themeadoway

To continue east I suppose head south to Military Trail over to Conlins over the 401 to connect back to the final segments in the northeast. I think the Panam drive will also have some sort of cycling path on it once construction in this area wraps up.

 

[Northern Light]

Walked the Victoria Park to Warden segment today, Sept 2nd, 2024, including the Garden Club project, and also Wexford Woods:

The approach, looking north-east from VP:

Its been a few years now...........so....we need to talk about this 'trail head':

No trail head signage, no way finding signage, no drinking fountain, no seating........no entry landscaping................uhhh.......we need some work here.

***

Milkweed establishing, a good native plant, host to Monarch Butterflies:

This looks to be False Sunflower, another desirable native in the planting mix, its doing fairly well here:

Goldenrod is absolutely dominant at this time of year:

Here's the Garden Club of Toronto project, it appears to be incomplete as yet:

This is a very peculiar, if pretty choice.........(for the garden); Cardinal Flower:

What makes this odd is that Cardinal Flower is a wetland edge plant.........it doesn't like to be in the drink.......but very moist soil is desirable. Here we have level ground, with no body of water near by............a preliminary examination of the site suggests to me that there may be or will be some irrigation. I suppose I'm fine w/that................but it would have seemed more logical to me to dig down and grade the surroundings to support a wetter environment naturally.

Wexford Woods, looking north from the Meadoway:

A couple of shots from within said woods:

These woods have received some expert attention over they years to regenerate understory growth. There are some positive indications of progress, but too few wildflowers and a virtual absence of ferns is unfortunate. Further biodiversity would be desirable.

***

Back to the Meadoway........we see these:

This appears to be Tall Sunflower, another desirable native species planted here......

We finish off with some fairly common, but desirable New England Aster:

Overall, I'm pleased w/the restoration progress, those there's room for more, and room for a better biodiversity, and improved habitat range.

None of the trailheads are in an improved state as yet........

And the Bike/Multi-use Path in this section is only 3M wide and showing its age............ So some work yet to be done.

 

[Northern Light]

From the Meadoway follks, we have a map showing completed portions of the trail (blue); and places you have to divert due to gaps in the trail network (yellow)

The section from Military Trail to Morningside is now open.

The section from Midland to Brimley has been experiencing serious delays (was supposed to be done by now).

 

[Voltz]

That section through UTSC should have been built with the Pan Am sports center, the neighborhood to the east can not access it without driving.

What is funny is that when the center was built they put in a curb cut and a mini stop sign where the trail will meet Pan Am Drive on the east side of the center

 

[Towered]

I love the idea that someday biking to the zoo will be possible.

 

[duffo]

I love the idea that someday biking to the zoo will be possible.

It's possible today, using the detours indicated on the map. I did it a few weeks ago.

The part between Morningside and Conlins was a bit hairy, but otherwise was an awesome ride.

Btw super confusing that they opened the Military Trail to Morningside segment, we rode there and then it dumped us on the side of the road at Morningside and the 401 and we had to backtrack. What's the plan to cross the highway?

 

[Northern Light]

What's the plan to cross the highway?

So this is from way back in 2019 and I would not take it as anything remotely accurate........but as a jumping off point.

To be clearer........the intent is a dedicated crossing bridge......one that will be quite costly given the highway ROW........its not yet funded.........nor designed.

 

[Voltz]

So this is from way back in 2019 and I would not take it as anything remotely accurate........but as a jumping off point.

View attachment 602728

To be clearer........the intent is a dedicated crossing bridge......one that will be quite costly given the highway ROW........its not yet funded.........nor designed.

It looked to me like the trail would use Conlins Rd, do you mean a new bridge right beside it to cross the 401?

 

[Andy_in_Toronto]

There still so many gaps in the trail going from the Don to the zoo.
Their webpage doesn’t show the construction timeline and updates anymore. We outdated. Maybe I missed the right page.

Has someone more information why barely any is built? Like just one trail segment this year. Sad!

 

[Northern Light]

It looked to me like the trail would use Conlins Rd, do you mean a new bridge right beside it to cross the 401?

You are correct that this was settled on, at the very least, as the interim condition. I remember discussions about a dedicated bridge (something iconic) across the highway, but I assumed that got deferred/axed for budget.

Conlins shows in the preferred alignment:

 

[Northern Light]

There still so many gaps in the trail going from the Don to the zoo.
Their webpage doesn’t show the construction timeline and updates anymore. We outdated. Maybe I missed the right page.

Has someone more information why barely any is built? Like just one trail segment this year. Sad!

3 trail segments were contemplated for this year.

Midland to Brimley/Lawrence ran into utility/hydro conflict issues, which are being discussed.

Bermondsey to Eglinton should go quite soon, it could be pushed to spring '25, not sure.

That should address most of the gaps. The East Don Trail to Bermondsey awaits the tunnel under the Mx tracks.

There is no resolution pending, so far as I'm aware, to get over/under Stouffville GO.

 

[JBR]

So this is from way back in 2019 and I would not take it as anything remotely accurate........but as a jumping off point.

View attachment 602728

To be clearer........the intent is a dedicated crossing bridge......one that will be quite costly given the highway ROW........its not yet funded.........nor designed.

When did they move the LRT yard from Sheppard to Morningside/401???