Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), in partnership with the City of Toronto, is undertaking maintenance work on an existing shoreline erosion control structure in Cliff Lumsdon Park. This work will provide long-term protection against the hazards of shoreline erosion and address public safety concerns.
Project Location
The Project Area is located within Cliff Lumsdon Park at the intersection of Sixth Street and Lake Shore Drive in Etobicoke, City of Toronto.
The area of concern is the revetment located along the Lake Ontario shoreline, consisting of deteriorating concrete erosion protection on the east side of the park and a failing armourstone revetment on the west side.
Learn More About the Project
Project Background
Cliff Lumsdon Park is part of a series of waterfront parks located along Lake Ontario in the west end of the City of Toronto.
The park was once the site of the New Toronto Filtration Plant, later converted to the Lakeshore Pumping Station. The plant ceased operation in 1992 and was removed from the site in 2000.
The park currently features a pumping station monument, a large lawn area, several benches, and an unobstructed view of the City of Toronto skyline. It is a popular location among members of the local community, particularly dog owners.
The Project Area includes a 270 m long revetment made of armourstone and stacked concrete rubble material. Two City of Toronto stormwater outfalls discharge into Lake Ontario through the revetment.
The revetment structure has been exposed to continued wave and wind action, as well as recent severe weather events, such as high Lake Ontario water levels in 2017 and 2019, and the April 14/15, 2018 wind storm. This has resulted in the deterioration of the structure and erosion of the park land.
This structure and the other nearby erosion control structures have been monitored annually since 2006 as part of TRCA’s Erosion Risk Management Program (ERMP).
The inspections showed major deficiencies in the structure such as backshore erosion, scouring and displacement of fill. The concrete rubble material has been deteriorating, leaving behind exposed rebar.
These deficiencies place the park at further risk of erosion and present hazards to public safety.
In 2022, TRCA retained Riggs Associates Ltd., a coastal engineering consulting firm, to develop detailed designs for repairs of the concrete slab revetment to address the ongoing shoreline erosion and public safety hazards.
Repair works will include removal of the existing erosion control structure and reconstructing it as a berm revetment with new and reused material to provide long-term shoreline protection and ensure public safety.
Scope of Work
The scope of work for this project includes the following components:
- Site preparation, including tree removals/protection, installation of Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) measures and construction fencing, and the establishment of staging/stockpiling areas and a construction access route
- Removal of the existing structure and rebuilding of a new revetment through placement of large rip rap in a sloped berm configuration
- Installation of fish habitat features below the water
- Site restoration and demobilization, including reseeding and tree plantings
The proposed modifications will allow the shoreline erosion control structure to better absorb wave impact and be more resilient to changing to lake levels, as well as promote aquatic habitat enhancement in Lake Ontario.
Construction Information
Work is scheduled to commence in late 2024, pending receipt of all permits and approvals. An updated schedule will be posted here and on-site once timelines have been finalized.
Construction activities will include material deliveries to the park by construction trucks on weekdays during work hours. The full site access and closure areas will be posted here and on-site closer to the project start date.
To ensure public safety, portions of Cliff Lumsdon Park will be closed for the duration of construction activities. Rotary Peace Park and Twelfth Street will remain open to the public during construction and are both located within walking distance.
Public Notices
Notice of Construction
Signs with detailed construction information will be placed at various locations near the Project Area, including timelines and park closures. Letters containing project information will also be circulated to members of the community prior to the start of construction. The Notice of Construction will be made available here once it has been circulated.
Project Updates
Progress updates will be posted regularly upon commencement of construction activities.
Contact Us
The Planning Team is located at TRCA’s Boyd Field Centre in Vaughan:
Restoration and Infrastructure Division, Erosion Risk Management
9755 Canada Company Avenue
Vaughan, Ontario
L4H 0A3
For more information regarding this project, please contact the Project Manager:
Whitney Brennan, Project Manager
Erosion Risk Management
Restoration & Infrastructure
whitney.brennan@trca.ca
(647) 212-6871