New Federal Funding for Petticoat Creek Conservation Park and Claremont Nature Centre Will Create More Opportunities to Enjoy the Outdoors
April 17, 2023, Toronto, ON — Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) Petticoat Creek Conservation Park and Claremont Nature Centre will receive funding from the Government of Canada to strengthen access to these important greenspaces and better serve the community.
On April 16 at Petticoat Creek, Jennifer O’Connell, Member of Parliament for Pickering-Uxbridge, announced that over $740,000 has been committed to the park, and $320,000 to Claremont Nature Centre, as part of the Canada Community Revitalization Fund. TRCA Chief Executive Officer John MacKenzie welcomed the announcement, highlighting the important upgrades that will be accomplished to strengthen the infrastructure and improve accessibility, use of greenspaces, and the overall visitor experience at these locations.
At Petticoat Creek, funded initiatives include adding 50 new picnic tables, two new picnic shelters and repairing two existing ones, and upgrading washrooms for accessibility. Two new wayfinding kiosks with accessibility information will be installed to enhance the experience on park trails, and park access roads and parking lots will be paved and repaired.
Visitors to Claremont Nature Centre will benefit from the construction of two new outdoor accessible learning spaces, including covered shelters to enable programming during inclement weather, and improvements to the driveway and parking lot.
TRCA’s Petticoat Creek Conservation Park (above left) and Claremont Nature Centre (above right).
The enhancements will enable a greater number of visitors to enjoy the outdoors, and engage in activities for education, recreation, and to improve health and wellness. Visit TRCA’s website for more information about Petticoat Creek Conservation Park and Claremont Nature Centre.
The Canada Community Revitalization Fund is a two-year, $500 million national infrastructure program to revitalize communities across Canada. The fund supports projects that aim to revitalize downtown cores and main streets, reinvent outdoor spaces, create green infrastructure, and increase the accessibility of community spaces.
Quotes:
“Thank you to the Government of Canada for this important investment. TRCA’s Petticoat Creek Conservation Park and Claremont Nature Centre provide visitors endless opportunities to spend time outdoors, connect with nature, and learn about our heritage. The funding support is enabling us to make the infrastructure enhancements needed to keep these valuable greenspaces welcoming and accessible for all to enjoy.”
— John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, TRCA
About Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Since 1957, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), as enabled through the provincial Conservation Authorities Act, has taken action to enhance our region’s natural environment and protect our land, water, and communities from the impacts of flooding and increasingly extreme weather events – Ontario’s leading cause of public emergencies.
As the region’s first line of defence against natural hazards, TRCA maintains vital infrastructure and provides programs and services that promote public health and safety, protecting people and property.
TRCA mobilizes a science-based approach to provide sound policy advice, leveraging its position as a not-for-profit operating in the broader public sector to achieve collective impacts within our communities and across all levels of government.
TRCA’s jurisdiction includes nine watersheds and their Lake Ontario shorelines, spanning six upper-tier and fifteen lower-tier municipalities and representing almost five million people, approximately 10% of Canada’s population.
To learn more about TRCA, visit trca.ca.
Media Contact
Crystal Lee
Communications and Media Relations Specialist
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
crystal.lee@trca.ca