Editor’s note: This story has been clarified to reflect plans to build a new, staffed provincial park with camping spaces in addition to the Uxbridge urban park announcement.
The Ford government has confirmed plans to build a new provincial park in the Greater Toronto Area.
The province said it would be creating an “urban provincial park” in Uxbridge, Ont., a town in Durham Region, located to the northeast of Toronto.
Ontario’s minister of the environment, conservation and parks, David Piccini, said the announcement — which was teased in the latest budget document — was timed to coincide with Earth Day.
“Creating the province’s first urban provincial park in Uxbridge would be a major step forward for conservation and biodiversity protection in Ontario,” Piccini said.
“We look forward to working with the public and local stakeholders to make this vision a reality for residents and visitors to get out and enjoy nature near this rapidly growing region.”
In addition to the unveiled plans for an urban provincial park in Uxbridge, the Ford government has confirmed plans are in place to build a new operating provincial park. An operating park “has staff and provides further recreational opportunities for Ontarians to enjoy as compared to non-operating provincial parks,” a spokesperson said.
The province has 115 operating provincial parks including Algonquin Provincial Park and Killbear Provincial Park. Non-operating provincial parks include Windigo Bay Provincial Park and Lighthouse Bay Provincial Park.
The new operating park will include up to 250 camping spaces, according to the province. Officials said it would be the first new operating park to open in 40 years.
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Provincial parks are enshrined in legislation to protect significant parts of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage, offering research and monitoring and sustainable, outdoor recreation.
According to Ontario, there were 12 million visits to provincial parks in 2022.
The Uxbridge park will be located in Oak Ridges Moraine and, according to officials, will be designed to incorporate hiking and birdwatching.
Dave Barton, Mayor of Uxbridge, welcomed the news, saying the area was “near major urban centres in the GTA and perfect for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.”
The province’s 2023 budget made reference to exploration work taking place in Uxbridge for new protected land but did not confirm plans to build a new provincial park in the town.
The Ford government said the park could include 532 hectares of provincially-owned land, including the 598-hectare Durham Regional Forest, owned by the local municipal government. That area is a mixed wood and conifer forest.
“Over the coming months, the government will be conducting site assessments and evaluations to measure the feasibility of creating an urban provincial park in Uxbridge,” the province said in a statement Saturday.
Consultations will include Indigenous communities, the public and various local and environmental bodies.
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