Providing an urban park corridor for cyclists and pedestrians to travel from the city’s downtown core to the Rouge National Urban Park in Scarborough, is just one part of the City of Toronto’s Ravine Strategy highlighted at Highland Creek Ravine, earlier this week.  

“City Council and I strongly support significant investments in Toronto’s Ravine Strategy, now and in the long term. I am committed to working with our federal partners to protect our ravines and invest in the city’s incredible and vast natural infrastructure,” explained Mayor John Tory during the July 13 news conference that included local, provincial, and federal elected representatives.

Mayor John Tory with local political representatives for the Scarborough-Rouge Park constituency (left to right) MPP Vijay Thanigasalam, Ward 25 City Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, and MP Gary Anandasangaree, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

Long considered a defining characteristic of Toronto neighbourhoods, the city’s acclaimed ravine system extends over 300 km and 11,000 hectares, following rivers that start to the north in the Oak Ridges Moraine and continue south to Lake Ontario. In 2020, recognizing the importance of this natural resource, City Council launched the Toronto Ravine Strategy.

The plan, which recognizes the value of our ravines — from serving as a natural repository for the region’s historical artifacts, to providing precious green infrastructure — sets out a number of key actions and recommendations established to clean, protect, and enhance the ravine system over the next 10 years.

Arial view of Rouge Park, image courtesy of City of Toronto

Since 2020, the Government of Canada has provided $18.2 million and the City of Toronto has contributed $39.8 million to support this strategy. Key projects to benefit from this funding include:

  • Constructing a new trail connection from the Meadoway to Highland Creek Trail, creating a vibrant expanse of urban greenspace and meadowlands
  • Improving existing trails through Taylor Creek Park, Rowntree Mills Park, Centennial Park, and the Scarborough Waterfront, including trail reconstruction and rehabilitation of pathway systems
  • The design and construction of the East Don Trail Phase 2b (Loop) and Phase 3, which once completed will create a trail connection from Lawrence Avenue East to Lake Ontario
  • Installing new trail wayfinding signage in ravines at the East Don Trail, Upper Highland Trail, Meadoway, Upper Black Creek, and Loop Trail, improving accessibility for ravine users
  • Enhancing existing entry points at three ravines across the city, including Edwards Gardens, to improve community access to green spaces
  • Protecting and restoring the trail at Highland Creek from erosion
  • Improving natural infrastructure in Priority Investment Areas by restoring wetlands at Cudmore Creek, Chester Springs, Upper Black Creek, Rowntree Mills, Morningside Park, and Sunnybrook Park
  • A design to address the Mid-Humber gap that will create a safe, continuous, multi-use trail system both along the Humber River Trail and the future Loop Trail

Map of Toronto's Ravines, image courtesy of City of Toronto

The City estimates that in 2022, it will invest $118.1 million to support the principles and actions of the Ravine Strategy, which include “increasing climate resilience, improving opportunities for safe and sustainable access to ravines, restoring ecological health and function, and engaging communities.”

Priority investment areas include:

  • Rowntree Mills Park
  • West Humber Parklands
  • Upper Black Creek
  • Lower Mimico Creek
  • High Park
  • Sunnybrook Park
  • Moore Park and Yellow Creek Ravines
  • Lower Don River
  • East Highland Creek and Morningside Park
  • Lower Highland Creek

To access status updates for this initiative or for more detailed information on the City of Toronto’s Ravine Strategy visit www.toronto.lca/ravinestrategy.

We will continue to follow progress on the Toronto Ravine Strategy, but in the meantime. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in our dedicated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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