August 18, 2022, Toronto, ON – Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) will upgrade 1.6 km of multi-use trail at its Altona Forest property in Pickering, ON with support from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF).
Jennifer O’Connell, Member of Parliament for Pickering-Uxbridge, announced the CCRF’s $198,000 investment in this project at the Altona Forest property.
TRCA’s improvements to Altona Forest are intended to help meet an anticipated increase in trail usage at its conservation parks and lands across the Greater Toronto Area, as individuals and families recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic seek opportunities to enjoy safe outdoor recreation.
The improvements at Altona Forest will include the abatement of tree hazards, and the construction of a new 380-metre accessible trail of compacted limestone aggregate, featuring eight culverts to maintain water cycle processes in the forest.
TRCA expects to complete the trail upgrades by the end of 2022.
The Canada Community Revitalization Fund is a two-year, $500 million national infrastructure program to revitalize communities across Canada. Not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and other public institutions, and Indigenous communities can apply for funding for projects that aim to: revitalize downtown cores and main streets, reinvent outdoor spaces, create green infrastructure, and increase the accessibility of community spaces. Learn more.
Quotes:
“Growing up in Pickering, Altona Forest was always one of my favourite locations for hiking and enjoying the outdoors with friends and family. Altona Forest plays a vital role in the recreational, cultural, and ecological landscapes of Pickering. This project will greatly benefit our community by helping to revitalize our vibrant natural spaces and ensuring their use and enjoyment by future generations.”
— Jennifer O’Connell, Member of Parliament for Pickering-Uxbridge
“Time in nature is an excellent way to improve your physical and mental well-being. This has become evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when people have been enjoying TRCA’s trails more than ever. The investment to upgrade 1.6 km of existing trail will allow for the re-opening of the entire multi-use trail in Altona Forest for the community to use for years to come.”
— John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
TRCA’s Altona Forest
- Altona Forest is a 53-hectare property owned and managed by TRCA. It is located along the eastern edge of Petticoat Creek in the City of Pickering, Durham Region.
- Altona Forest is home to more than 300 plant species, providing essential habitat for a wide variety of animals native to Southern Ontario, including songbirds, foxes, coyotes, hawks and rare amphibians.
- TRCA designated Altona Forest an Environmentally Significant Area in 1982 because of its ecological significance.
- The 4.2-kilometre trail system within Altona Forest takes users through cedar and hardwood forests, wetlands, and meadows, offering experiences for hikers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and bird watchers.
- The Altona Forest trail system is planned to connect to the Durham Meadoway active transportation route through the hydro corridor at the northern end of Altona Forest. The Durham Meadoway is part of the regional trail network envisioned in TRCA’s Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region.
To learn more visit trca.ca/altona-forest.
Altona Forest flora (left to right): White Trillium, Trout Lily, Red Trillium
About Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
With more than 60 years of experience, TRCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario, created to safeguard and enhance the health and well-being of watershed communities through the protection and restoration of the natural environment and the ecological services the environment provides. More than five million people live within TRCA-managed watersheds, and many others work in and visit destinations across the jurisdiction. These nine watersheds, plus their collective Lake Ontario waterfront shorelines, span six upper-tier and 15 lower-tier municipalities. Some of Canada’s largest and fastest growing municipalities, including Toronto, Markham and Vaughan, are located entirely within TRCA’s jurisdiction.
To learn more about TRCA, visit trca.ca.
Media Contact
Shereen Daghstani
Senior Manager, Communications, Marketing and Events
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Shereen.daghstani@trca.ca