March 27, 2023, Toronto, ON — Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) Heart Lake Conservation Park has received funding from the Government of Canada that will help create more community access to this valuable greenspace.
On March 26, MP Ruby Sahota and TRCA CEO John MacKenzie were present at Heart Lake Conservation Park to make the announcement and recognize the vital work that will be accomplished with this investment support. As part of the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF), over $660,000 in federal government funding will go towards essential infrastructure improvements to strengthen accessibility, the use of the greenspace, and the overall visitor experience at this location.
Occupying 169 hectares, Heart Lake is one of the largest natural greenspaces in the City of Brampton. It boasts a diverse ecosystem that includes two kettle lakes, a wetland, the headwaters for Spring Creek, and a significant block of forest. Its forest, bogs, and wetland have been identified as Provincially significant. It also has very practical value for the over 250,000 annual visitors who are looking for a chance to get outdoors and maintain their physical and mental health.
The improvements will help ensure the park remains the useful space it is for the community. Funded initiatives include:
- Adding 50 new picnic tables;
- Upgrading washrooms to improve accessibility components;
- Reconstructing and making improvements to the swimming pool deck;
- Installing 3 new wayfinding kiosks with accessibility information to improve the park trail;
- Adding 2 culverts to promote better water flow;
- Constructing a new set of pedestrian access gates; and
- Paving and repairing park access roads and parking lots.
For more information about Heart Lake Conservation Park, visit trca.ca/parks/heart-lake-conservation-area.
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:
“TRCA’s parks and education centres are important spaces for the communities we serve. This includes Heart Lake Conservation Park, which has been a source of recreation and fun for local residents across TRCA’s jurisdiction. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for supporting our efforts to enhance Heart Lake. These investments will improve accessibility and visitor experiences so that this valuable greenspace can continue to thrive for decades to come.”
— 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