Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

2008

Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• The variety of landscapes, features and nature-based recreation destinations in the Humber River watershed provide potential for a wide range of recreational activities including walking, hiking, cross-country skiing, wildlife-viewing, picnicking, camping, bicycling, horseback riding, golfing, fishing, swimming and exploring cultural heritage sites.

• Urban development and population growth in Humber watershed municipalities will likely result in increased use of existing greenspace and nature-based recreation facilities and demand for additional greenspace and facilities.

• There are approximately 8,800 hectares of public greenspace in the Humber River watershed (10% of the watershed). Most of the greenspace is owned by the TRCA (6,644 hectares or 75%). The quantity of greenspace in the Humber watershed increased by 243 hectares between 2000 and 2005.

• Oak Ridges Corridor Park, created through the transfer of 428 hectares of land from private owners and developers to the Province of Ontario in 2004, protects the last remaining natural corridor link between eastern and western parts of the Oak Ridges Moraine in Richmond Hill and represents a major addition to the Humber watershed greenspace system.

• The length of inter-regional trails in the Humber River watershed totals 213 km. The total length of inter-regional trails has increased by 28 km since 2000 and an additional 15 km of inter-regional trails are proposed to be built in the watershed.

• Numerous municipalities have proposed new local trails in the Humber River watershed, totaling 168 km in length. Brampton’s proposed system is the most extensive, with over 134 km of trails proposed in its PathWays Master Plan.

• There are 24 golf courses in the Humber River watershed. These include private (8), semi-private (1) and public facilities (15). There has been a growing effort among some golf course managers to reduce the negative impacts of their operations on the watershed and incorporate more natural landscaping. Of the 24 golf courses in the Humber River watershed, four courses (Diamond Back Golf Club in Richmond Hill; Nobleton Lakes Golf Club in King Township; Oakdale Golf and Country Club and the Toronto Board of Trade Golf Course, both in Toronto) are Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. As such, they contribute to the conservation of resources and the protection of both common and rare plants and wildlife by implementing environmental practices.

Humber_Nature_based_Recreation_FINAL_080907.doc Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION...... 1 2.0 UNDERSTANDING NATURE-BASED RECREATION...... 2 3.0 MEASURING NATURE-BASED RECREATION ...... 4 4.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS IN THE HUMBER RIVER WATERSHED...... 5 4.1 Greenspace and Parks...... 5 4.1.1 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Lands ...... 9 4.1.2 Municipal Parks...... 12 4.1.3 Provincial and Federal Lands...... 13 4.1.4 Watershed Report Card Ratings...... 14 4.2 Trails...... 16 4.2.1 Inter-Regional Trails...... 18 4.2.2 Local Trails...... 20 4.2.3 Watershed Report Card Rating ...... 22 4.3 Resource-based Tourism ...... 23 4.4 Recreational Fishing ...... 25 4.5 Golfing...... 26 5.0 SUMMARY AND MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS ...... 26 6.0 REFERENCES...... 30

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Nature-based Recreation Areas and Experiences in the Humber River Watershed. .... 6 Figure 2. Trails in the Humber River Watershed...... 17

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Humber River Watershed Nature-based Recreation Strategic Concepts...... 6 Table 2. TRCA Attractions in the Humber River Watershed...... 8 Table 3. TRCA Land Acquisition and Disposal in the Humber River Watershed, 2000 to 2004... 9 Table 4. Quantity of Greenspace and Other Public Use Lands in the Humber Watershed (in hectares) ...... 15 Table 5: TRCA Conservation Area Attendance, Humber River Watershed, 2002 – 2004...... 16 Table 6: Summary of Trail Systems...... 18 Table 7: Inter-regional Trails in the Humber River Watershed by Municipality...... 23

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A: TRCA and Municipal Information Contacts...... 31 Appendix B: Municipal Parks and Facilities in the Humber River Watershed...... 33

Humber_Nature_based_Recreation_FINAL_080907.doc Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In 1997, the Humber Watershed Task Force released the Humber River Watershed Strategy, Legacy: A Strategy For A Healthy Humber (MTRCA, 1997), which provided thirty objectives for a healthy, sustainable watershed, and a set of actions necessary to achieve them. It also provided an overview of the state of the Humber River watershed at that time. Since the release of the watershed strategy, a significant amount of new information has become available through monitoring, special studies and the experiences of watershed partners.

In 2004, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), in partnership with watershed municipalities and the Humber Watershed Alliance initiated a study to develop an integrated watershed management plan for the Humber River. This study was initiated to fulfill the watershed planning requirements of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan , 2002, and to update the strategies and recommendations of Legacy, in light of new information, a stronger scientific foundation and better understanding of the effects of human actions on natural ecosystems. The watershed plan is intended to inform and guide municipalities, provincial and federal governments, TRCA, non-governmental organizations and private landowners regarding management actions needed to maintain and improve watershed health.

This State of the Watershed Report provides updated information on current conditions, emerging trends and identifies key watershed management issues and opportunities in the Humber pertaining to nature-based recreation. Indicators of watershed health and associated targets are used to rate current conditions. Ratings for a full suite of indicators of watershed health are summarized in, Listen to Your River: A Report Card on the Health of the Humber River Watershed (TRCA, 2007).

The report is organized into five sections. Section 2 introduces the topic of nature-based recreation, explains the need for greenspace in our society, describes current trends regarding nature-based recreation and makes note of potential management issues. Section 3 describes the different indicators used to monitor nature-based recreation and assess progress towards achieving the objectives of the watershed strategy. Section 4 provides updated information on current conditions and updated watershed report card ratings. Section 5 summarizes watershed management issues pertaining to nature-based recreation in the Humber watershed, based on current conditions and identifies those that may warrant further study and management recommendations in the final watershed plan.

1 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

2.0 UNDERSTANDING NATURE-BASED RECREATION

Public greenspace 1 is highly valued for their aesthetic, social, recreational and spiritual benefits. They provide leisure opportunities ranging from hiking, bird-watching, cycling, camping and picnicking, to swimming, fishing, and a variety of other active and passive activities. It is a well-documented fact that active lifestyles promote a sense of well-being and an overall healthier population which over time will lessen the burden on our health care system. There are many opportunities in the Humber River watershed for nature-based recreation in the greenspace, on privately-owned lands (e.g., hydro and utility corridors), on trails, and through resource-based tourism, and recreational fishing and golfing.

Outdoor recreation is one way people of all ages and all cultures can interact with the environment. Through greater interaction with the outdoor environment, people gain an appreciation for their natural surroundings and are more likely to support watershed protection efforts.

A 1996 Government of Canada survey revealed that outdoor recreational pursuits are very important to Canadians and that Canadians commit large amounts of their leisure time and resources to access natural areas. More than 70% of new home buyers in the GTA rate proximity to a park, common outdoor area or natural area as important or extremely important in their purchase decisions (J.D. Power and Associates, 2006). Natural areas in and around urban settlements satisfy needs for healthy recreation and “back-to-nature” experiences that include exercise, fresh air and quiet, as well as scenic vistas, the challenge and adventure of rugged terrain and the excitement of encountering wildlife in their natural habitat.

People who live in urban areas often seek rural or countryside experiences for a change of surroundings. Rural areas are valued for their peaceful, pastoral qualities; for fresh air and open space; for being an escape from the noise and congestions of the city; and as a spiritual link to the cultural past. Due to this desire for rural settings, creating, protecting and enhancing public greenspace and outdoor recreational opportunities in rural communities can help diversify local economic development in these areas. Rural areas are broadening their tourism markets in response to growing public interest, to include pick-your-own produce, wineries, farm-style mazes and miniature golf attractions, family activities associated with fall harvest and Christmas tree cutting, farm bed and breakfasts, heritage events and other resource-based tourism opportunities. These services contribute significantly to the local economy.

As the populations of the watershed’s municipalities grow there will be increased demand for nature-based recreation throughout the watershed. It will be increasingly important to carefully integrate the human use of natural and rural areas in and near urban areas with care for the non-human inhabitants and ecological and cultural integrity. In particular, it is likely that there will be increased demand for access to public greenspaces, trails, rural areas and other lower impact, passive outdoor recreational pursuits.

1 Greenspace is defined as all publicly-owned land available for nature-based recreation, including municipal parks and conservation lands, and valley and stream corridors, but not including golf courses, cemeteries, and municipal parks intended for intensive recreational use (e.g., soccer fields).

2 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

The demand for increased public access to the natural areas of the watershed has the potential for unauthorised use and overuse, negatively impacting environmental health and degrading the areas upon which nature-based recreation destinations rely. For example, unplanned or excessive use can lead to trampling of vegetation, soil compaction and erosion. Pet wastes can pollute both the terrestrial system and water quality. Potential hazards to safe use of natural areas occur from inappropriate uses where faster-moving or high-impact uses clash with pedestrians and children, or crime and vandalism pose a threat to life and property. It is necessary that the pursuit of outdoor activities be balanced with the needs of the natural system to allow for the sustainability of those activities. Likewise, it is necessary to properly plan and manage public use to avoid conflict with adjacent landowners.

3 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

3.0 MEASURING NATURE-BASED RECREATION

In the Humber River watershed, nature-based recreation is assessed using the following indicators: quantity of greenspace; outdoor recreation opportunities; and, trails. Greenspace is assessed based on the total area of publicly-owned greenspace in the Humber River watershed. The extent and use of outdoor recreational facilities is used to examine the outdoor recreation opportunities. Trails are evaluated based on the degree of completion of a planned network of inter-regional, connected trails.

Measuring actual use of greenspaces and trails, and participation in nature-based recreation poses a number of challenges. At present, TRCA does little recreational use monitoring. Visitor attendance numbers are available at Conservation Parks where admission and/or user fees are collected (e.g., from gate house receipts and park reports). The attendance numbers are most accurate where admission is purchased or limited. Recreational use is also measured through the number of memberships purchased for TRCA Conservation Parks. Where attendance is uncontrolled, use could be measured by using automated techniques such as trail counters; however, these measures are not currently in place at TRCA conservation lands.

Nature-based recreation can also be assessed using signs of environmental degradation, such as trail erosion, waste accumulation, cultural heritage damage, fish depletion and the trampling and destruction of plant and animal species. Trail user conflicts and public safety are other issues which arise with increasing recreational activities in our natural areas. The Humber River State of the Watershed Technical Report – Terrestrial System presents available data on disturbances to natural areas resulting from trampling, informal trails, dumping and exotic invasive species of plants (TRCA, 2007).

The evaluation of current conditions in this report is based on data collected by TRCA and data made available by municipalities and other organizations. However, many of these organizations do not track these indicators on an on-going basis. Representing greenspace in Figure 1 was challenging as the definition of greenspace incorporates aspects both of land use (nature-based recreation opportunity) and of land ownership (publicly-owned and -accessible). Data layers 2 from municipalities, TRCA, and others were incorporated in Figure 1 to identify potential greenspace areas. Potential greenspace areas that corresponded with natural cover, urban open space, vacant, and recreational land cover categories from interpretation of 2002 aerial photography were retained as greenspace. Cemeteries, golf courses, and hydro and utility corridors were excluded.

2 TRCA-accessible data layers used to identify greenspace included the municipal parks layer, additional data layers from the cities of Brampton and Toronto, the TRCA property layer, Downsview Park, Oak Ridges Corridor Park, and Hrland (an older property layer including municipal, TRCA, and provincial lands).

4 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

4.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS IN THE HUMBER RIVER WATERSHED

The variety of landscapes and features in the Humber River watershed provide potential for a wide range of recreational activities including walking, hiking, cross-country skiing, wildlife- viewing, picnicking, camping, bicycling, horseback riding, golfing, fishing, swimming and exploring cultural heritage sites. These activities, combined with the opportunities provided by greenspace in the watershed, result in numerous opportunities for nature-based recreation.

Different types of recreational experiences are possible across the watershed largely as a result of differences in physiographic and land use conditions (Figure 1). Areas of the watershed that have the potential to provide distinct nature-based recreational experiences include: • Kettle lakes, • Hills of the Headwaters, • Humber Valley wilderness, • Urban escape, • Black Creek parklands, and • Humber Bay parklands.

These experiences range from wilderness experiences where hiking, canoeing, and nature interpretation are key activities, to rural and urban experiences where cultural heritage interpretation, education and public events, and intensive recreation (e.g., golf) are more common. The Hills of the Headwaters area is notable as five inter-regional trails converge on the village of Palgrave. It is important to note that nature-based recreational opportunities in the areas identified in Figure 1 are not currently being planned or managed in an integrated fashion using these geographic boundaries or experience themes. In fact, some areas might be notable for their lack of developed nature-based recreation opportunities.

4.1 Greenspace and Parks

Greenspace is defined as all publicly-owned land available for nature-based recreation, including municipal parks and conservation lands, and valley and stream corridors, but not including golf courses, cemeteries, and municipal parks intended for intensive recreational use (e.g., soccer fields). There are approximately 8,800 ha of greenspace in the Humber River watershed. Most of the greenspace is owned by the TRCA (6,644 ha). The majority of TRCA- owned land lies along the Humber River and its tributaries and was acquired for flood protection, to preserve environmentally significant features, to provide recreational facilities, and for flood control structures. There are also numerous municipal parks in the watershed, as summarized in Appendix B. In addition to these lands, there are various trails, resource-based tourism operations, recreational fishing opportunities, and golf courses in the watershed that can be used by the public. However, the extent of urban development within the watershed continues to expand at a fast pace. As the population of the watershed increases, there will be growing pressure on greenspaces and an increasing need for monitoring.

5 Figure 1. Nature-based Recreation Areas and Experiences in the Humber River Watershed

Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Table 1. Humber River Watershed Nature-based Recreation Strategic Concepts. Conceptual Features/Destinations Experience/Opportunity Area Kettle Lakes • Lake St. George Field Centre • Kettle lakes • Lake Wilcox • Nature interpretation • Oak Ridges Corridor Park • Passive use • Oak Ridges Moraine • Outdoor education programs • Golf • Unique landforms • Scenic views • Connection to Don and Rouge River watersheds Humber • High Park • Urban escape Bay • Lake Ontario waterfront • Water activities (e.g. Swimming, boating, Parklands • Waterfront Trail fishing) • Parklands • Trails Urban • Claireville Conservation Area • Water management interpretation Escape • Claireville Ranch • Equestrian • Wild Water Kingdom • Water play • Indian Line Campground • Camping • Humber Arboretum • Swimming • Fishing • Nature interpretation • Trails Black Creek • Black Creek Pioneer Village • Cultural heritage interpretation Parklands • Parklands • Events space and festivals • Urban farms • Trails • Urban agriculture Humber • Living City Campus at • Aboriginal heritage interpretation Valley Kortright • Education Wilderness • Boyd Conservation Area • Picnicking • McMichael Canadian Art • Visual arts Collection • Trails • Granger Greenway • Humber Valley Heritage Trail • Pierre and Janet Berton Trail Hills of the • Palgrave trail hub • Active use (camping, mountain biking, Headwaters • Conservation areas (Albion swimming, boating, fishing, golf) Hills, Glen Haffy) • Trails (pedestrian, equestrian, cycling, • Albion Hills Field Centre cross-country skiing, multi-use) • Inter-regional trails (Bruce • Outdoor education programs Trail, Oak Ridges Trail, Great • Unique landforms Pine Ridge Trail, Humber • Scenic views Valley Heritage Trail) • Connection to Credit River watershed • Oak Ridges Moraine • Niagara Escarpment

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Table 2. TRCA Attractions in the Humber River Watershed.

Name of Site

Swimming Camping Fishing Fly-Fishing Weddings Venues Event Parties Christmas Canoeing/Paddling Hiking Biking Mountain Playground Viewing Wildlife watching Bird Festival Sugarbush Cross-Country Skiing Tobogganing Badminton Riding Horseback Transit Public Size (ha) (ha) Size Picnicking Volleyball Volleyball Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Albion Hills 446 Conservation Area ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● and Campground Black Creek ● ● ● ● Pioneer Village Boyd Conservation 155 ● ● ● ● ● ● Area Claireville 848 ● ● ● ● Conservation Area Cold Creek ● ● Conservation Area Glen Haffy 325 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Conservation Area Indian Line 19.5 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Campground Living City Campus 320 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● at Kortright

8 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Within the City of Toronto, many of the TRCA’s lands are managed by the Toronto Parks and Recreation Division of the Department of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism. This system of lands includes the linear parks along the lower Humber River, Humber Bay Park and the Metro Toronto Track & Field Centre at York University. In the northern section of the Humber River watershed, large areas of the watershed are covered in forests. The TRCA owns large tracts of land in this area, including the Nashville and Palgrave lands.

Throughout the watershed, municipalities provide parks, recreation and cultural facilities and programs. Many of the facilities discussed in this chapter serve regional needs and draw users from across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

4.1.1 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Lands

TRCA’s land holdings in the Humber River watershed include three active conservation areas (Albion Hills, Boyd and Glen Haffy), two closed conservation areas (Claireville and Cold Creek), two Forest and Wildlife Areas (Palgrave and Lake St. George), and many Resource Management Tracts (including Nashville and Bolton). The TRCA also operates Black Creek Pioneer Village, the Living City Campus at Kortright, two residential field centres (Albion Hills and Lake St. George), and two campgrounds (Albion Hills and Indian Line) within the Humber watershed. Management plans that guide future initiatives on TRCA lands have been prepared for the Boyd North and Glassco Park area (which includes the Living City Campus at Kortright), and Cold Creek and Claireville conservation areas. Under management agreements, portions of the TRCA’s lands are used for Wild Water Kingdom, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the Humber Arboretum, Eglinton Flats Regional Sport Centre, the North Caledon Equestrian Park, and other recreational facilities and programs. The TRCA currently assesses visitor attendance at its conservation areas, education field centres, Black Creek Pioneer Village and the Living City Campus at Kortright through admission and user fees.

In addition to these properties, the TRCA has other lands within the Humber Watershed. A summary of land acquisitions and disposal can be found in Table 3.

Table 3. TRCA Land Acquisition and Disposal in the Humber River Watershed, 2000 to 2004. Year Land Acquired (ha) Land Sold (ha) 2000 14.4 0.2 2001 2.2 0.8 2002 58.1 0.1 2003 0.8 0.0 2004 34.7 6.3 Watershed Total 110.3 7.4

9 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Albion Hills Conservation Area and Field Centre

Centreville Creek joins the Humber River in the 446 hectare complex that includes Albion Hills Conservation Area, Campground and Field Centre. In the headwaters of the Humber River and surround by the hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine, there are many opportunities for recreational opportunities at Albion Hills (see Table 2). The conservation area is open year–round, although the campground is open only from early May to late October. Approximately 105,000 people visited Albion Hills Conservation Area in 2004. There are many activities that visitors can participate in while visiting the conservation area and campground. The sandy beach and lake is a large attraction for paddlers, swimmers and people looking to fish during the summer, while cross-country skiing and tobogganing draws many visitors in the winter months. There are 30 km of trails available for hiking at the Albion Hills Conservation Area. The conservation area also hosts a number of events throughout the year, including mountain biking races, an antique show, adventure races and runs.

The campground at Albion Hills has 234 serviced and un-serviced campsites and pull-through sites for RV’s. Showers and washrooms are available throughout the campground. Other amenities in the campground include playgrounds, volleyball and badminton courts, horseshoe pits, laundry facilities, campground store and snack bar.

Albion Hills Field Centre, open year-round, is a spacious cedar and granite chalet-style building that provides accommodation and dining facilities for 40 participants and four visiting leaders, all wheel-chair accessible. In addition to a wide variety of outdoor education activities, the Centre has a modern dairy farm operation, an authentic 1840s log home, 28 km of groomed cross-country ski trails, and the potential to participate in swimming and canoeing in the summer months.

Black Creek Pioneer Village

The award winning Black Creek Pioneer Village is a restored 19 th -century rural Victorian community along the edges of Black Creek. There are over 35 carefully restored 1860s shops and homes in the Village, including a log house, a grain barn, piggery, smoke house and a larger second house. Visitors can talk with the blacksmith, the cabinet maker and others about their crafts. In addition to the restored buildings, there is a Visitor Centre with a gift shop, historical displays and restaurants.

Many events and festivals are held at the Village. Annual events include Christmas By Lamplight and Howling Hootenanny. There is also active interpretive program at the Village that is popular with school and community groups. In addition, there is an Adventure Day Camp offered to children during the summer months. The village is closed between January 1 to May 1 each year.

Boyd Conservation Area

The steep-sided river valley and tall trees offer a quiet refuge where visitors can relax and enjoy the outdoors at Boyd Conservation Area. There are numerous trails (a total of 2.5 km), forested areas and picnic sites (19 sites in all), making it a premier picnic location. The conservation area attracts approximately 55,000 visitors each year. However, this number fluctuates due to the primarily outdoor summer attractions that are vulnerable to weather conditions. For

10 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation example, attendance dropped by 10,000 people in the summer of 2004 from the summer of 2003, the former being a relatively cool and wet summer while the latter was a hot and dry summer.

Glen Haffy Conservation Area

Located on 243 hectares at the crossroads of the Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Moraine, Glen Haffy Conservation Area is situated amongst dramatic hills and mature forests. Glen Haffy’s own nature trails wind through the forest and the Bruce Trail passes along the Escarpment. The conservation area is home to the TRCA’s fish-rearing facility, which raises thousands of rainbow trout each year for stocking the ponds at Albion Hills and Heart Lake Conservation Areas. Each year the approximately 23,000 park visitors can fish in the two trout ponds, picnic in one of the seven picnic sites, hike 6 km of scenic trails and enjoy some of the best bird watching in Southern Ontario. Glen Haffy also operates a fly-fishing club that provides access to the private Headwaters Trout Ponds, rowboats, a log cabin and a barbeque. Glen Haffy Conservation Area is open from mid-April to the end of October, while the Fly Fishing Club is open until early November.

Indian Line Campground

Open from the beginning of May to mid-November, Indian Line Campground is found adjacent to the Claireville Flood Control Dam and reservoir located on the west branch of the Humber River in Brampton. Claireville Dam creates an on-the-lake holiday where visitors can swim, fish, canoe or hike. Accessible by major highways and public transit, Indian Line Campground provides easy access to major Toronto-area attractions.

The campground has 240 serviced and un-serviced campsites as well as pull-through sites for RV’s. Campground amenities include washrooms, hot showers, a swimming pool, a children’s play area, laundry facilities, and a campground store and snack bar. Approximately 60,000 people camped at Indian Line Campground in 2004.

Living City Campus at Kortright

Each year, approximately 130,000 people visit the Living City Campus at Kortright. The Campus offers many amenities for its visitors, including interpretive programs, a sugarbush festival, gift shop, and café. The Visitor Centre is equipped with a theatre, classrooms, meeting spaces and exhibit halls. Over 16 km of hiking trails offer visitors the opportunity to explore, forests, meadows and marshes. Bird-watching and wildlife viewing are popular activities at this year-round facility.

The Earth Rangers building was opened in 2003 and acts as the base of operations for Kortright’s education and wildlife programs. It is a 60,000 square feet facility on a 31 hectare site. It houses a small theatre, interactive educational displays and some of the most specialized wildlife facilities in Canada. The building acts as a showpiece of environmental responsibility, using radiant heating and cooling technology, a sophisticated wastewater system, and solar panels to heat the water. Environmentally advanced building materials were used, such as recycled plastic roof tiles, Interface carpet tiles, and eco-friendly paints. Lake St. George Field Centre

11 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

The Lake St. George property, a provincially significant wetland on the Oak Ridges Moraine, contains a kettle lake surrounded by mixed woodlands and open meadows that possess abundant fish and wildlife populations. The Field Centre was opened in 1979, and consists of two dormitory/classroom buildings that can accommodate a total of 84 persons. In addition to a wide variety of outdoor education programs, Lake St. George provides the opportunity to explore the ecology of a kettle lake aboard a pontoon craft or learn some basic canoeing skills taught by Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association-trained instructors. For three weeks in the summer, the Centre, in cooperation with the Toronto District School Board, offers a residential Environmental Science course which leads to a Grade 12 Science credit.

4.1.2 Municipal Parks

High Park

Nestled amongst urban development like an oasis is High Park. This 161.4 hectare park offers many opportunities for public recreation, including baseball diamonds, lawn bowling fields, a children’s playground, a pool, sports fields, tennis courts and an outdoor ice rink in the winter. About one-third of the park’s natural environment consists of nationally rare oak savannah.

Also situated in High Park is Colborne Lodge, a rare Regency picturesque cottage - a monument to the founders of the Park. Built in 1837, the Lodge still contains many original furnishings, artifacts, and some of the builder’s own watercolors that depict images of early Toronto. The extensive ornamental and kitchen gardens surrounding the Lodge are being restored. Colborne Lodge is open year-round and is accessible by public transit.

Humber Arboretum

Situated in the West Humber River Valley, the Humber Arboretum offers a balance of managed and natural areas, featuring a wide variety of plants and wildlife. An Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) is found within the Arboretum. Over 3 km of self-guided trails connect the various areas of the Arboretum. The grounds are open every day of the year. In operation since the fall of 1982, the Arboretum in managed by the Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology, the TRCA and the City of Toronto. The Centre for Urban Ecology, designed as a focal point for the Arboretum, is an educational facility which contains an assortment of ever-changing displays and exhibits. The facility is accessible by public transit.

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4.1.3 Provincial and Federal Lands

Oak Ridges Corridor Park

The Oak Ridges Corridor Park is 428 hectares (1057 acres) of land that have been transferred by private owners and developers to the Province of Ontario as part of the Pickering Land Exchange Agreement reached in 2004. The intent of the transfer of lands is to provide a natural continuous east-west corridor that protects the headwaters of the Humber and Rouge rivers and also contains a number of significant features, including wetlands and kettle lakes. The land is an irregularly shaped parcel that lies on either side of Yonge Street just south of the community of Oak Ridges in Richmond Hill. The land has been used for farming, residential and recreational purposes for almost 200 years. Approximately 40 hectares (100 acres) at the western end of the reserve is Bathurst Glen Golf Course.

The Province of Ontario, through the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, requested that TRCA develop a management plan for the lands, with the objectives that they should be managed to protect and restore natural ecosystems and that a pedestrian trail be built across the lands. TRCA completed a management plan for the property in 2005. The plan addresses ecological protection and restoration, trails, education and outreach, and monitoring.

Parc Downsview Park

Parc Downsview Park is located on the former Canadian Forces military base in Toronto and occupies approximately 260 hectares in both the Humber and the Don River watersheds. In 1994, the Government of Canada announced that it would develop the area into a unique urban recreational greenspace for the enjoyment of future generations. The park is to be self- sustaining; therefore, some of the lands are sold and subleased to provide sources of funding to finance the development of the park property. The vision of Parc Downsview Park is “a unique urban recreational green space, a safe and peaceful place, developed according to the principles of environmental, economic and social sustainability, for Canadians to enjoy in all seasons. The Park reflects Canada’s mosaic brilliance and celebrates its past, present and future accomplishments” (Parc Downsview Park Incorporated 2004). Ultimately, over 100 hectares of land will be developed commercially, and the revenues generated from those lands will be used to develop the park and create a seamless and integrated sustainable community. Over 110 hectares will is proposed for traditional parkland, recreational and cultural uses. The remaining areas comprise lands intended for related community development opportunities that will complement the park design and for the Department of National Defense, for its continued operational requirements on the site. The Parc Downsview Park site is well served by major arterial roads and is also well served by public transit.

When the Government of Canada announced the closure of the Canadian Forces Base Toronto, it let it be known that the existing Department of National Defense-owned lands associated with the Downsview site would be held in perpetuity and in trust primarily as a unique urban recreational green space for the enjoyment of future generations. In May 2000, the design for Canada’s first national urban park was announced. Unlike most of Canada’s national parks, Parc Downsview Park does not offer an extraordinary landscape that needs to be preserved or protected. Instead, the Downsview site provides an opportunity for an entirely new definition of the urban landscape, one with the potential to redefine humankind’s

13 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation relationship with nature.

Today, Parc Downsview Park is a vibrant place where hundreds of thousands of Canadians are educated and entertained every year through a wide variety of community programs and seasonal events. The park has baseball diamonds, soccer fields and lots of open areas for running and walking. In addition, the 45,000 m 2 Hangar Sports Complex attracts more than 400,000 people year round. There are four professional quality indoor soccer fields, a paintball facility, five indoor beach volleyball courts, a training facility for Canada’s Olympic archery team and areas for touch football, ultimate Frisbee, field hockey, aerobics and impact training. In addition, the venue is available for trade shows and banquets.

4.1.4 Watershed Report Card Ratings

Greenspace

Objective: Create an accessible and connected greenspace system Indicator: Public Greenspace Measure: Quantity of publicly-owned greenspace in the watershed

Table 4 describes the quantity of greenspace in the Humber River watershed by subwatershed and municipality. Approximately 8800 hectares or 10 per cent of the Humber River watershed can be classified as public greenspace (Table 4). This represents a 2.8 per cent increase in public greenspace in the watershed since 2000.

Suggested Watershed Report Card Rating: B

There was a net gain of 243 hectares of greenspace in the Humber River watershed between 2000 and 2004. This surpasses the target set in the 2000 Humber River Watershed Report Card for an additional 200 hectares by 2005.

Greenspaces in the Main and Lower Humber River subwatersheds are fairly well connected. Within the Black Creek subwatershed, greenspaces in the City of Toronto are well connected; however, there are few greenspaces in the Vaughan portion, where there is no municipal greenspace. Acquisition of lands to create and connect greenspaces in the Humber watershed should focus on the upper reaches of the West and East Humber subwatersheds, in rural areas adjacent to urbanizing areas.

14 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Table 4. Quantity of Greenspace and Other Public Use Lands in the Humber Watershed (in hectares) Greenspace Golf Courses Cemeteries Fairgrounds Location (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) Watershed total 8,800 1,600 206 15 Subwatershed Main Humber 4,303 529 25 10 East Humber 1,500 416 8 0 West Humber 1,369 294 33 0 Lower Humber 948 237 49 5 Black Creek 680 121 92 0 Municipality Adjala- 126 0 0 0 Tosorontio Aurora 0 0 0 0 Brampton 1,001 144 2 0 Caledon 2,865 379 10 7 King 450 142 7 0 Mississauga 1 0 0 0 Mono 37 0 1 0 Richmond Hill 468 195 0 0 Toronto 1,837 353 127 0 Vaughan 2,015 387 59 8

Recreation

Objective: Identify and develop local- and regional-scale recreation, education, and tourism destinations within the greenspace system Indicator: Outdoor Recreation Measure: Extent and use of outdoor recreational facilities.

As indicated in section 3, data on the extent and use of the full range of outdoor recreational facilities and destinations in the Humber Watershed is limited and not regularly tracked. Appendix B summarizes available information regarding municipal parks and facilities in the watershed. Appendix B in combination with the information provided in section 4.1 provides an indication of the extent of outdoor recreation facilities that exist in the Humber watershed.

With regard to use of outdoor recreation facilities, based on available attendance records, TRCA Conservation Areas and Campgrounds have seen a decline in attendance from 2001 to 2004 (Table 5). It is important to note that use of these facilities is highly dependent on weather - there must be warm, rain-free days in the spring, summer and fall to attract people to picnic, hike, swim, fish and camp; on the other hand, there must be plenty of snow to attract people to ski, toboggan and snowshoe in the winter months.

15 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Table 5: TRCA Conservation Area Attendance, Humber River Watershed, 2002 – 2004 2001 2002 2003 2004 TRCA Property Attendance Attendance Attendance Attendance

Albion Hills Conservation Area & Campground 93,645 82,483 78,091 104,875 Boyd Conservation Area 47,981 49,649 65,512 55,045 Glen Haffy Conservation Area 27,474 25,356 23,144 21,558

Indian Line Campground 75,883 106,839 78,200 59,027 Living City Campus at Kortright 141,329 141,092 121,992 111,454

Total 386,312 405,419 366,939 351,959

Given the fluctuating weather conditions that are arising because of climate change, TRCA’s outdoor recreation facilities are vulnerable to attendance fluctuations. By providing additional recreation opportunities that are less weather-dependent, the TRCA Conservation Areas and Campgrounds could minimize the influence that weather has on visitation. However, this will require investment in buildings that can house indoor activities. Living City Campus at Kortright is currently undergoing a renovation of its main building. Some of the buildings at other Conservation Areas could be retrofitted and/or replaced to allow for indoor activities that would attract a variety of visitors.

Suggested Report Card Rating: C

There are a great number and great variety of outdoor recreation opportunities within the Humber River watershed. However, attendance at TRCA Conservation Areas and campgrounds has remained relatively static. The 2000 Report Card target for increased attendance by 2005 was not met. There are numerous other activities that people can participate in, for which attendance records are not available. For example, the number of golf courses in the watershed has increased to 24.

4.2 Trails There is a great wealth of trails within the Humber River watershed (see Figure 2 and Table 6). There are several inter-regional trail systems that traverse the watershed in addition to the many local trails within the watershed’s municipalities. Both informal and formal trails exist, and provide the trail user with the opportunity to experience the varied landscape and natural beauty of the Humber River watershed.

16 Figure 2. Trails in the Humber River Watershed. Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Table 6: Summary of Trail Systems. Local Trails* Inter-regional Trails Municipality (km) (km) Adjala-Tosorontio 0 0 Aurora 1 0 Brampton 32 0.4 Caledon 117 88 King 38 21 Mississauga 3 0 Mono 10 10 Richmond Hill 39 0 Toronto 85** 85 Vaughan 52 9 Watershed Total 377 213 * Local trails include municipal trails and other trail systems not considered part of inter-regional trail systems. ** Local trails in the City of Toronto are considered part of the inter-regional trail system.

4.2.1 Inter-Regional Trails Inter-regional trails are defined as trails that cross the borders of more than one region, such as the Bruce Trail. Many of the inter-regional trails in the Humber River watershed are located on TRCA owned lands. In highly urbanized areas, such as the City of Toronto, TRCA lands are some of the only remaining greenspaces in the watershed available for trails. Inter-regional trails in the Humber River watershed total 213 km (Table 6). The following are some of the larger inter-regional trails in Humber River watershed.

Humber Valley Heritage Trail (hiking only)

The Humber Valley Heritage Trail (HVHT) covers 19.2 km of the Humber River watershed, from Palgrave to Bolton and into King Township, all owned by the TRCA. The trail also passes through Albion Hills Conservation Area. Along the way, it passes many interesting natural and cultural features. The trail was developed in 1995 and is operated by an association of volunteers called the Humber Valley Heritage Trail Association (HVHTA). The HVHTA intends to extend the HVHT further down the Humber River to Lake Ontario. The north end of the HVHT links into the Caledon Trailway, the Bruce Trail and the Trans-Canada Trail. The Oak Ridges Moraine Trail will soon link up to the HVHTA in the east.

Bruce Trail (hiking only)

The Bruce Trail is the oldest and longest continuous footpath in Canada. It runs along the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory, spanning more than 800 km of main trail. The mission of the Bruce Trail Association is to provide a public footpath along the Niagara Escarpment and promote protection of the Escarpment and appreciation of its natural beauty. Within the Humber River watershed, 36.8 km of the Bruce Trail can be found. In the fall of 2004, a section of the Bruce Trail was re-routed in Caledon - the Main Trail was removed from the Caledon Trailway, although links to the Trailway are maintained as side trails. A portion of the Bruce Trail passes through Glen Haffy Conservation Area.

18 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Caledon Trailway/Trans Canada Trail (multi-use)

The Trans Canada Trail is a federal undertaking that was conceived in 1992 as a part of Canada’s 125 th year of confederation. It was publicly launched in 1994 as a trail that would unite the country.

The Caledon Trailway is a 36 km stretch of the Trans Canada Trail, a trail that runs across Canada. The Trans Canada Trail is a multi-use recreational trail that will accommodate five core activities: walking, cycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling (where possible or desired). The Caledon Trailway follows the route of a railway line built in the 1870's by the Northwestern Railway to transport stone, brick, timber and agricultural goods. The Town of Caledon purchased the railway in 1989. Of the 36 km, 13.2 km are in the Humber River Watershed. This stretch of the Trans Canada Trail provides non-motorized users an opportunity to view rivers, creeks, forests and agricultural landscapes.

Great Pine Ridge Trail (equestrian)

In 1973, the Great Pine Ridge Trail was mapped and ridden by equestrians from the Trent River in the east to the Niagara Escarpment in the west with a portion of the trail running over the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Trail incorporates both existing local trails and road sections. Within the Humber River watershed, approximately 42.0 km of this trail pass through the Town of Caledon and the Township of King, and provides links to the Bruce Trail, Caledon Trailway/Trans Canada Trail and the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail.

Oak Ridges Trail (hiking only)

The Oak Ridges Trail is a project initiated in 1992 to “expand, secure, develop, manage and maintain...a continuous recreational trail along the Oak Ridges Moraine, from the Niagara Escarpment [in the west] to the Northumberland Forest [in the east]” (Oak Ridges Trail Association, 2004). The Oak Ridges Trail presently exists as a continuous walking/hiking trail extending over 200 km in an east-west direction across the Oak Ridges Moraine. Portions of the trail are ideally situated in the Natural Core and Natural Linkages Areas, while other portions will need to be relocated or constructed in order to achieve optimum trail alignment. Open year-round to hiking, certain sections of the Oak Ridges Trail provide excellent wintertime cross-country skiing. The trail passes through forests, valleys, over hills, by streams and lakes, across open fields, and along quiet country roads, providing the trail user the opportunity to see many varieties of trees, plants, birds and animal life.

The Oak Ridges Trail has 11.3 km in the Humber River watershed in King Township and the Town of Caledon.

19 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Waterfront Trail (multi-use)

The Waterfront Trail is a 740 km trail along Lake Ontario that celebrates the nature and culture of the Province. First opened in 1995, the Trail is part of the regeneration of the Lake Ontario waterfront. The vision integrates ecological health, economic viability and a sense of community. It is through the Trail that people have been mobilized to improve the waterfront as they have rediscovered the lakeshore and understood the interconnections, both natural and cultural, that are so vital to its health and vitality. Trail users report that they enjoy cycling, walking, in-line skating, jogging, birding and/or exploring the vast natural and cultural heritage of the Lake Ontario waterfront. The Trail links as many as 184 natural areas, 161 parks and promenades, 84 marinas and yacht clubs, and hundreds of historic places, fairs, museums, art galleries and festivals.

Within the Humber River watershed, 3 km of the Waterfront Trail pass along the Lake at the mouth of the Humber River. The Trail connects to the Humber Trail along the Humber River and to the trails in High Park.

4.2.2 Local Trails In addition to the regional trails in the Humber River watershed, the local municipalities have a number of local trails (totaling 123 km in length) for residents and visitors to use. The following is a small selection of the trails available in the municipalities.

City of Brampton

The City of Brampton has an ambitious trails master plan, PathWays, for its communities. Existing trails within the Humber River watershed are limited (only 31.8 km). These trails are multi-use trails. However, the City proposes an additional 134.2 km of trails be established in the Watershed.

City of Mississauga

Only a small portion of the City of Mississauga is located within the Humber River watershed. Within that area, there are 3.2 km of multi-use recreational trail pathway. The pathway is an asphalt surface, and 3 to 3.5 m wide.

City of Toronto

The City of Toronto has 85 km of paved, multi-use trails in the Humber River watershed. Among these trails are the Discovery Walks, self-guided walking trails that link the City’s parks, beaches, gardens and neighborhoods. These trails are accessible by public transit and are designed as an option for “green” tourism. Three Discovery Walks are found in the Humber River watershed - the Humber River, Old Mill & Marshes Discovery Walk, the Western Ravines & Beaches Discovery Walk, Humber Arboretum and West Humber River Valley Discovery Walk and the Lambton House Hotel and Lower Humber River Discovery Walk (coming soon).

20 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Humber River, Old Mill & Marshes Discovery Walk

This 7.3 km Discovery Walk loops through the Humber River Valley from approximately Bloor Street south to Lake Ontario. Features along the route include The Old Mill, The Old Mill Bridge, Toronto Carrying Place Trail (a trail used by the First Nations people for millennia as a trade route between Lake Ontario and the Upper Great Lakes to the north), the Humber River, valley and marshes, and an early settlement site.

Western Ravines & Beaches Discovery Walk

The Western Ravines and Beaches Discovery Walk is a 6.7 km trail that follows scenic footpaths and a beach boardwalk. It allows the walk to experience natural ponds and marshes, oak woodlands and lakeshore parks. This trail loops through High Park, along the Western Beaches Boardwalk, past the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion, across the Humber Bike/Pedestrian Bridge, through Rennie Park Ravine and the Swansea neighborhood before returning to High Park.

Humber Arboretum and West Humber River Valley Discovery Walk

Humber Arboretum and West Humber River Valley Discovery Walk is a 10 km trail that leads you on a loop through the West Humber River valley on a mixture of paved, hard-packed and grass trails. You can start at the Humber Arboretum (adjacent to Humber College) or at the Humberwood Centre. This delightful walk takes you through ornamental gardens, to an environmentally significant woodland and along the West Humber River, an area once traveled by First Nation peoples.

Humber Trail

Stretching from the shores of Lake Ontario to Sheppard Avenue, where it forks to follow sections of both the West Humber and East Humber Rivers, the Humber Trail is 21.6 km long. This trail is found in the river valley of the Humber River. Bikers, hikers, joggers and walkers are welcome to use the Trail. The trail is accessible by public transit. Future plans for this trail include a linkage to the Humber Trail in the City of Vaughan.

City of Vaughan

The Humber Trail (William Granger Greenway) (multi-use)

The first phase of the Humber Trail (8.9 km) was completed in 2000. The trail weaves its way through the valley of the East Humber River from Bindertwine Park in Kleinburg to Boyd Conservation Area in Woodbridge, with a link to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and Boyd Conservation Area. There are plans to extend the trail in future years to the shores of Lake Ontario in the south and join the Trans Canada Trail to the north. The Vaughan section of the Humber Trail is dedicated to William Granger, the former Chair of the TRCA, in recognition of his contribution to watershed management. Plans are in place to extend the trail along the Humber River to Langstaff Road, when funds become available. Proposed extensions to the trail include 15 km of additional trail. The Humber Trail is open for hiking, biking and walking. It includes many significant natural

21 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation habitats, cultural and heritage resources, recreational and educational facilities, and the historic aboriginal trade route known as the Toronto Carrying Place Trail. This trail consists of a gravel main trail and local dirt trails, and is accessible by public transit.

Township of King

King City Trail (multi-use)

Located in the valleyland area of the Humber River, the 3.4 km King City Trail is ideal for walking, hiking, jogging or cross-country skiing. Bird watching can be enjoyed in a setting abundant with wild flowers, plant life, trees and waterways. Bridges, boardwalks and stepping stones allow for safe marsh and river crossings.

Town of Aurora

There are numerous trails in the Town of Aurora; however only a small section of the Town is within the Humber River watershed. Within this area, there is a portion of a cycling trail that runs along roads just north of Bloomington Road between Bathurst Street and Bayview Avenue. The portion of this trail within the watershed is 0.8 km long.

4.2.3 Watershed Report Card Rating

Trails

Objective: Develop a system of inter-regional trails through the greenspace system Indicator: Trails Measure: Degree of completion of a network of planned inter-regional, connected trails.

There has been an increase in the length of inter-regional trails in the Humber River watershed from 185 km in 2000 to 213 km (Table 7). This 28 km increase exceeds the 2005 Humber River watershed Report Card target of 17 km. An additional 15 km of inter-regional trails have been proposed in the watershed. Brampton and Toronto have added inter-regional trails to their trail systems; there has been a reduction in Caledon and Mono. This may be related to re-routing of trails, which happens occasionally to provide some relief to existing trail areas and to provide linkages to new areas, or to the change in the boundaries of the Humber River watershed.

In the Black Creek subwatershed, trail linkages have been created in the City of Toronto, addressing the Report Card target for 2005. However, there is room for the trails to extend further along Black Creek into the City of Vaughan. This trail system could then be extended into the East Humber subwatershed through Vaughan and King Township. This would create a connection from Lake Ontario to the Oak Ridges Moraine via the eastern section of the Humber River Watershed.

Adjala-Tosorontio is the only municipality to report no formal trails in the Humber River watershed. There is potential for inter-regional trails to be located in this municipality. Connections could be made to TRCA properties in Adjala-Tosorontio from TRCA properties in Caledon. Although not preferable for the safety of pedestrians, connections to properties could occur along roadways. Meanwhile, Caledon could provide linkages into Caledon from the proposed trail system in Brampton. Not all trails need be linked, but extensions along river

22 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation corridors and valleys could easily be facilitated. King Township has limited municipal trails within its municipality. There is potential here to link existing trails, as well as extend trails from the south, as previously mentioned.

Table 7: Inter-regional Trails in the Humber River Watershed by Municipality. Trails Completed Trails Completed Municipality 2004 (km) 2000 (km) Change Brampton 0.4 0 0.4 Caledon 88 94 -6 King 21 21 0 Mono 10 11 -1 Toronto 85 54 31 Vaughan 9 5 4 Total 213.4 185 28.4

Numerous municipalities have proposed new local trails in the Humber River watershed, totaling 168 km in length. Brampton’s proposed system is the most extensive, with over 134 km of trails proposed in their PathWays Master Plan. Design of new local trails should be informed by available watershed knowledge. Plans and designs for local trails should consider the location of existing natural heritage features and their sensitivity to disturbance from trail uses and avoid highly sensitive features.

Suggested Watershed Report Card Rating: A

The length of trails has increased within the Humber River watershed and the 2005 target of 17 km of new trails was surpassed. There are still areas of the watershed that could benefit from trail connections being made. However, since the 2005 targets have been met and/or surpassed, it indicates that municipalities within the Humber River watershed consider the trails to be an important aspect of public use and recreation.

4.3 Resource-based Tourism Within the Humber River watershed, the TRCA lands, especially the conservation areas, provide much of the resource-based tourism opportunities. For example, Albion Hills Conservation Area allows for fishing, boating, skating and skiing opportunities, all activities which use the natural resources available to them. Glen Haffy Conservation Area provides visitors with the opportunity to fish and hike its trails.

Boating has always been a part of life on the Humber River. Today canoeists paddle the lower Humber from the Humber Marshes to the Old Mill and can paddle the West Humber River for about three kilometers upstream of the Claireville Reservoir. Humber Bay is used extensively by rowers and sailors.

There are some other tourism opportunities in the watershed that also are based on natural resources. Some of these opportunities are noted below.

23 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Daniel’s Ark Wildlife Preserve

Located in Bolton, Daniel’s Ark Wildlife Preserve is a Canadian wildlife preserve that cares for foxes, wolves, lynx, cougars, a bear, a mink, raccoons and a coyote. Other wild creatures, including Canada Geese, mallards and blue herons, visit the Preserve as well. It is a living laboratory for education and research. School groups are encouraged to visit, allowing children to develop respect for nature and understand conservation techniques in the living classroom. The Preserve also offers children’s camps during the summer months.

Bolton Fall Fair

The Bolton Fall Fair, in existence since 1858, is held annually at the Albion and Bolton Agricultural Society Fairgrounds in Bolton. Attractions include a demolition derby, a parade, an agriculture learning centre, a milking competition, a midway, and livestock and cattle shows. The Fair is fully accessible and is coordinated by the Albion and Bolton Agricultural Society.

Humber Nurseries Butterfly Conservatory

At the Humber Nurseries in Brampton, a 4,500 square foot, mesh-enclosed house has been created with all the essential food plants for butterflies. The butterfly conservatory is home to thirty (30) species of native butterflies, plus the migrating Monarch butterfly. In addition to these species, the conservatory also features many more spectacular southern varieties. The exhibit is also informative and educational as there are display boards in place featuring full colour photographs of each species and information on their food plants and habits. Their life cycle showing the many stages of their growth is fully illustrated.

Wild Water Kingdom

Wild Water Kingdom is Canada’s largest water park, occupying over 4 hectares on the grounds of Claireville Conservation Area in Brampton. Open from early June to Labour Day weekend, the park has a children’s play area, 21 water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, two miniature golf courses, batting cages, food courts and 50 picnic areas.

Etobicoke Field Studies Centre

Also located in Claireville Conservation Area, the Toronto District School Board’s Etobicoke Field Studies Centre has programs for students from Grade 1 to Grade 5. Using the diverse population of animal life found within the boundaries of the park, the natural resources of the area make it an ideal location for introducing students to the natural environment. The Centre is open throughout the school year.

King Brewery

Located in Nobleton, in the Township of King, King Brewery is Ontario’s newest microbrewery. Opened in July of 2002, the brewery produces a one of a kind, true to style, Czech Pilsner. King Brewery is committed to providing a locally produced beer. At the Brewery, the visitor can take a tour of the brew house, visit the tasting bar and shop the gift store.

Magnotta Winery

24 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Magnotta Winery has one of its seven locations in the Humber River watershed, in the City of Vaughan. This location is the company’s flagship facility. The 60,000 sq. ft. architectural triumph has high cathedral ceilings that give way to the extensive art collection. The retail store offers over 150 products. A tour of the winery includes a stroll along vine covered trellises and a visit to the temperature controlled wine cellars, where vintages age in barrels and bottles of champagne line the walls. The tour also looks at brewing premium, all natural, craft brewed beers at Magnotta Brewery, and home wine making with Fiesta Juice. The winery is in production and open to the public year round.

Pine Farms Orchard

Located in the rolling hills of the Township of King, Pine Farms Orchard is a new fruit winery specializing in hard cider and apple wine. The family-run operation started in the mid-1940s. The Orchard also has its own apple orchard, bakeshop, tea room and gift shop. Sixteen varieties of apples are grown on dwarf trees. A Christmas store and Christmas trees are available in the holiday season. Tours for school groups and family functions are available. Pine Farms Orchard is open from mid-August to the end of December.

Vinoteca Winery

In Woodbridge, Vinetoca Winery produces award-winning wines. Founded in 1989, Vinoteca was the first Greater Toronto Area winery. Wine tastings, winery tours and great gifts are available year-round.

Woodbridge Fair

The first Woodbridge Fair was held in 1847. In 1885, a permanent property was purchased on the 8 th Concession (now Kipling Avenue) at Porter Avenue, and the fair held there the following year. The Woodbridge Agricultural Society operates the annual fair on Thanksgiving weekends. The Fair has exhibits for agricultural products, art, culinary art, needlework, crafts, antiques, horticulture, school children and amateur photography. There are also concessions and a midway. Events held at the Fair include a demolition derby. The fairgrounds include a half-mile race track completely surfaced with limestone dust allowing use year round. The fairgrounds have also been the place of many community events and even as an emergency relief station area due to the aftermath of destruction from Hurricane Hazel. There have been elegant garden parties, auction sales, movie productions, art and craft shows, a rodeo show, antique and garden markets, and numerous cultural festivals held at the fairgrounds over the years.

4.4 Recreational Fishing Recreational angling is permitted in the Humber River watershed, subject to provincial fishing regulations. There are many popular angling destinations within the Humber River watershed. Some of these locations include Albion Hills, Claireville, Cold Creek and Glen Haffy Conservation Areas, Bolton Resources Management Tract, Lake Wilcox, Grenadier Pond in High Park, the Humber River Marsh, the Lower Humber River, Summerlea Park and Eglinton Flats. As mentioned previously in this chapter, Glen Haffy Conservation Area operates a fly- fishing club that provides access to the private Headwaters Trout Ponds. Boats can be launched from the Humber Marshes.

25 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources stocks over 1.5 million fish every year for urban anglers, the majority of these in the Lake Ontario watershed. One of the popular rivers that enter the lake is the Humber River, which the Ministry stocks with brown or rainbow trout, Chinook, Coho or even some Atlantic salmon. With limited natural reproduction, these cold water species are the main fish stocked in the GTA.

In order to ensure long term, naturally reproducing, self-sustaining native populations, the stocking of fish species, including non-native species, must be measured and monitored. A comprehensive understanding of the recreational use and harvest of the fishery in the watershed has not yet been completed.

4.5 Golfing There are 24 golf courses in the Humber River watershed. These include private (8), semi- private (1) and public facilities (15). There has been a growing effort among some golf course managers to reduce negative impacts on the watershed and incorporate more natural landscaping. Of the 24 golf courses in the Humber River watershed, four courses (Diamond Back Golf Club in Richmond Hill, Nobleton Lakes Golf Club in the King, Oakdale Golf, and Country Club and the Toronto Board of Trade Golf Course in Toronto) are Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. As such, they contribute to the conservation of resources and the protection of both common and rare plants and wildlife by implementing environmental practices in the following areas: environmental planning, enhancing and protecting wildlife and their habitats, conserving and preserving water, resource conservation, reducing waster, and outreach and education. They also serve as important local and national demonstration sites and provide valuable data about the economic and environmental results of environmental management. This change in the focus of golf course management will continue to influence how the public will experience golf courses.

5.0 SUMMARY AND MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

The Humber River watershed has many opportunities for a variety of nature-based recreation experiences. The public greenspace, trails and private facilities accommodate a wide range of uses allowing for many recreational demands to be satisfied. While the characterization of these nature-based areas and experiences has been crafted for the purposes of this study, there is a need for greater recognition of the overall regional recreational system. It is comprised of lands and facilities operated by a variety of partners, and the role of each individual site needs to be recognized for its contribution to the system.

Watershed visitors and those seeking other recreation and tourist experiences come from throughout the watershed and beyond, so planning at a broader regional scale is essential to ensure sufficient access to public lands, to provide adequate management and to protect natural areas and ecosystem health for current and future generations.

The Humber River watershed has the basis for a significant, inter-connected regional open space system including regional trails, conservation areas, and major parks. This system could be further developed to reach its potential to provide nature-based recreation experiences for a growing population, support for healthy communities, interpretation of natural and cultural

26 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation heritage, linkages with local neighborhoods, and connections to surrounding watersheds.

As a Canadian Heritage River, protection and enjoyment of the diverse cultural heritage of the Humber River is an important objective. Cultural heritage features and landscapes are increasingly becoming recognized for their integral role in nature-based recreation. Countryside heritage offers a unique setting for scenic drives, hiking and other recreational pursuits. Heritage buildings are being considered for adaptive re-use, for such purposes as interpretive centres, restaurants or pubs that could complement and support various nature- based recreational activities with the additional benefit of fostering understanding and appreciation of the watershed’s heritage.

The outdoor recreation and tourism facilities in the watershed generate dollars for the local economy and contribute to community and family life by alleviating stress and promoting good health. People need safe access to greenspace for their own health and well-being. Statistics show that the need for outdoor activities, such as walking, swimming, golfing, horseback riding, camping and canoeing is increasing. As well, people are increasingly interested in taking part in nature-related activities in the countryside such as bird watching, hiking, adventure travel, and environmental education experiences. These factors, together with the massive population growth expected in the Greater Toronto Area, suggest that there will be an increased demand for recreation in the Humber watershed in the years to come. Although part of this demand can be met through more intensive use of existing facilities, in the long run there will be a need for new venues for outdoor recreation. Insufficient access leads to excessive pressure on existing public lands and the degradation of these resources. This is something to be avoided in the Humber River watershed.

While public use of greenspace areas can provide many benefits to the community, it is also associated with negative impacts on the natural environment and adjacent landowners. This may include environmental degradation, habitat destruction and noise pollution. Due to the growing pressures that are being put on greenspace, it is imperative that appropriate indicators are developed to monitor the levels of recreational use and the impacts on ecosystem health. Some indicators mentioned in Section 4 include installing trail counters and measuring erosion, waste accumulation, cultural heritage damage, fish depletion, and the trampling and destruction of plant and animal species. The information supplied by monitoring indicators should be integrated into greenspace planning and conservation area management planning initiatives.

The indicators currently used to measure nature-based recreation in the Humber River Watershed do pose some problems. Some of these indicators are not ones that TRCA and/or municipalities track. TRCA is able to track attendance at its facilities, the greenspace it acquires and the trails that it builds. Municipalities are able to indicate the greenspace they acquire and own, and which parks and other outdoor recreation facilities they operate. However, these groups have limited ability and time to track other outdoor recreation opportunities. Therefore, it is recommended that the Humber River Watershed Plan and Report Card do not track the extent of outdoor recreation opportunities. A summary of the most significant opportunities available and ones which are not, to provide a context for recreation opportunities in the watershed, would be a better use of staff time.

In addition, all TRCA watershed plans should strive to use the same indicators and measures for nature-based recreation. This would allow for comparison between the watersheds and for

27 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation easier tracking by TRCA staff. Requests from the various municipalities could be consolidated and measures for the individual watersheds could be determined through TRCA mapping.

In order to be able to accommodate future demands for outdoor recreation, the TRCA and the municipalities should begin to acquire lands for publicly-accessible greenspace in rural areas, especially the upper reaches of the West and East Humber subwatersheds. As urban development extends north to the Oak Ridges Moraine, the demand for greenspace in the northern reaches of the watershed will follow. By acquiring properties now, the municipalities and the TRCA can plan for and accommodate nature-based recreation on these lands. When acquiring greenspace lands, consideration should also be given to making connections to these new acquisitions, either through greenspace connections or trails.

Rural communities should look at acquiring public greenspace as a catalyst for attracting tourism and associated service industries. These initiatives would benefit the local economy as well as protect the natural environment. Rural communities located within the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Greenbelt Plan areas could greatly benefit from this type of initiative. Land acquisition and development of greenspace should be done in conjunction with the TRCA to ensure that the new greenspace lands are strategically acquired within a regional context.

Some of the inter-regional trail groups are seeking to extend their trails and link them to other trails in the Humber River watershed and beyond. Partnerships between agencies, municipalities and community representatives will assist in developing a sustainable and financially viable trails system. As well, local stewardship of trails can help to promote a sense of ownership of the area, which can lead to a stronger sense of environmental protection for the greenspace by local residents. Signs used in public parks and along trails are an excellent medium for providing users with directions and to educate them about the environment and the cultural heritage of the area. Signs should illustrate what is unique about the area and what trail users and local residents can do to conserve the natural and cultural heritage.

All trail implementation and the acquisition and operation of new properties needs to consider the available watershed knowledge as well as the watershed plan. Planning for nature-based recreation should take into account the sensitivity of flora and fauna species, communities, and landforms. Given the identification of sensitive areas such as the habitat of rare fauna species, rare flora communities and groundwater discharge areas through site management plans or the watershed plan, recommendations and policies should be developed regarding what uses in these areas should be permitted and what conditions would have to be met to allow public use. In order to maintain a healthy and functioning terrestrial and aquatic natural heritage system, public use and recreation activities may need to be restricted in some areas.

The greenspace system should be managed for planned sustainable uses and public enjoyment. In order to ensure that land is managed most effectively, management plans for all properties should be completed. Indicators to measure this sustainability would include the development of management plans and sustainable public use and enjoyment. Conservation Areas located near significant areas of urban growth should be priority areas for the development of new management plans if they do not already have one. An example of this is Boyd Conservation Area, where the suburban community is rapidly surrounding the park.

Watershed users come from across the region and planning at a watershed and broader

28 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation regional scale is essential to determining sufficient access to public lands and providing adequate management and protection of natural areas to benefit the ecosystem and current and future generations. With the population rapidly increasing in the Humber River watershed and surrounding area, it is important that environmental thresholds in relation to public use be identified and that use be monitored before environmental integrity is threatened. The existing range of opportunities needs to be reviewed and considered in relation to potential environmental impacts to identify inappropriate uses and redirect those users.

With increased development, comes increased pressure on remaining greenspaces. In areas of future development, there is a need for nature-based recreation to be considered early in the development process so that needs are addressed and money can be received from developers (so that municipality alone does not have to pay).

29 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

6.0 REFERENCES

J.D. Power and Associates. 2006. 2006 New Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study . TRCA Supplemental.

Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (MTRCA). 1997a . Legacy: A Strategy for a Healthy Humber.

Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (MTRCA). 1997b. A Call to Action, Implementing Legacy: A Strategy for a Healthy Humber.

Oak Ridges Trail Association. 2004. A Strategic Plan for the Oak Ridges Trail .

Parc Downsview Park Incorporated. 2004. Parc Downsview Park . Available at .

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). 2000. A Report Card on the Health of the Humber River Watershed .

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). 2007. Humber River State of the Watershed Technical Report – Terrestrial System.

30 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Appendix A: TRCA and Municipal Information Contacts The following persons provided technical input used to prepare this report.

TRCA Contacts

Division Section Contact Person Contact Information Finance and Conservation Deanna Cheriton (416) 661-6600, ext. 5204 Business Lands and (Conservation [email protected] Services Property Land Planner) Services

Mike Fenning (416) 661-6600, ext. 5223 Conservation (Senior Property [email protected] Lands and Agent) Property Services Daniela (416) 661-6600, ext. 5730 Information MacLeod [email protected] Technology (GIS Technician) Parks and Conservation Martha Wilson (416) 661-6600, ext. 5674 Culture Parks (Administrative [email protected] Coordinator)

Municipal Contacts

Municipality Department Contact Person Contact Information Township of Planning Gerry Caterer [email protected] Adjala- Department (Head of Phone: 905-936-3471 Tosorontino Planning) Town of Jim Kyle [email protected] Aurora City of Community Bryan Smith [email protected] Brampton Design, (Supervisor of Phone: 905-874-2338 Parks Open Space Fax: 905-874-3369 Planning & Planning, Parks Development & Facility Planning) Town of Recreation Brian Baird [email protected] Caledon and Property (Manager of Services Parks) Township of Parks and Catherine Purcell [email protected] King Recreation (Manager of Phone: 905-833-5321 x265 Parks and Fax: 905-933-2300 Recreation) General Inquiries: [email protected]

31 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Municipality Department Contact Person Contact Information City of Development Paul Taylor [email protected] Mississauga (Manager, 905-896-5360 Development) Town of Mono Recreation Kim Lemke [email protected] Facilities and (Recreation Phone: 519-941-3599 x27 Programs Manager) Fax: 519-941-9490

Judy Kohne Phone: 519-941-3599 x24 (Recreation Assistant) Town of Parks, Siu Yu [email protected] Richmond Hill Recreation (Manager of Phone: 905-771-5509 and Culture Parks Planning & Development)

Brent Harlow [email protected] (Parks Planning Phone: 905-771-2474 Technician) Fax: 905-771-2481 City of Economic Jack Brown [email protected] Toronto Development, (Research Phone: 416-392-0084 Culture and Analyst) Fax: 416-392 0050 Tourism

Parks and Brian Rutherford [email protected] Recreation (Manager of Phone: 416-392-8179 Dept. Parks and Recreation Planning)

City Planning Paul J. Bedford [email protected] (Director & Chief Planner, City Planning)

32 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Appendix B: Municipal Parks and Facilities in the Humber River Watershed (AS OF JANUARY 2005)

For more detailed information about facilities and permitted activities at these locations, please contact the appropriate municipality.

City of Brampton • Bellini Valley Park • Lucinda Park • Blue Jay Park • Manswood Park • Carabram Park • Martyniuk Park • Carberry Park • McVean Park • Cassin Park • Merrydale Park • Castlegrove Park • Pendergast Park • Castlemore Park • Rathcliffe Woods • Cheval Parkette • Sesquicentennial Park • Clover Bloom Parkette • Snowcap Park • Ebenezer Community Centre • Steeplebush Parkette • Ezard Park • Thorndale Parkette • Gladstone-Shaw Park • Treeline Park • James William Hewson Park • The Gore Bocce Club • Kanashiro Parkette

Town of Caledon • Adam Wallace Memorial Park • Montrose Farm Park • Bill Whitbread Park • Munro Street Parkette • Caledon Ball Park and Community • Newhouse Park Centre • Palgrave Ball Park • Caledon East Soccer Complex • Palgrave Tennis Courts • Caledon Leash-Free (Dog) Park • Peter Eben Park • Caledon North Hill Park • R J.A. Potts Memorial Park • Dell’Unto Park • Russell and Joan Robertson Park • Dicks Dam Park • Sant Farm Parkette • Edelweiss Park • Stationlands • Ellwood Park • Stephen Drive Parkette • Foundry Street Parkette • Stonehart Park • Fountainbridge Park • Ted Houston Park • Goodfellow Crescent Park • Tormina Parkette • Heritage Hills Parkette • Trans-Canada Trail Pavillion Park • Hubert Corless Park • Valleywood Park • Humber Grove Park • Victoria Park • John W. Nichols Park • Wakely Memorial Park • Jack Garrett Park • Westview Parkette • Julli’es Park • Whitbread Parkette • Lions Club Community Park • Mill Park

33 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

Township of King • Heritage Park • Laskay Community Hall • Humber Trails Conservation Area • Nobleton Community Hall, • King City Memorial Park, Recreation Centre and Pool Community Recreation Centre and • St. Edmunds Sparkling Cricket Club Arena

City of Mississauga • Albert McBride Park • Westwood Park • Father Joseph E. Nolan Park

Town of Richmond Hill • Beaufort Hills Park • Minthorn Park • Black Willow Park • North Shore Parkette • Briar Nine Reserve • Oak Ridges Meadow Park • Briar Nine Park • Oak Ridges Recreation Complex • Brickworks Park • Ozark Community Park • Catfish Pond Park • Parker Park • Channel Gate Parkette • Pine Greenway • Charles Connor Park • Pine Farm Park • Coons Park • Pine Needle Park • Hughey Park • Raccoon Park • Humber Flats Community Park • Snively Reserve • Jessie Vanek Park • Sunset Beach Park • Lake Wilcox Centre • Willow Hollow Park • Lake Wilcox Channel • Woodside Parkette • Lake Wilcox Fish and Wildlife Sanctuary

City of Toronto • Derrydowns Park and Black Creek • Lambton Woods Park Parklands • Metro Toronto Track and Field • Downsview Dells Park Centre • Eglinton Flats Park • Northwood Park • Esther Lorrie Park • Raymore Park • Etienne Brule Park • Rowntree Mills Park • James Gardens • Royalcrest Park • High Park • Scarlett Mills Park • Home Smith Park • South Humber Park • Humber Marshes Park • Summerlea Park • Humber Arboretum Park • Thistletown Area Park • Humberwoods Park • West Humber Park • Keelesdale Park • Weston Lions Park • King’s Mill Park

34 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation

City of Vaughan • Al Palladini (West Vaughan) • Rimwood Park Community Centre • Robert Watson Memorial Park • Alexander Elisa Park • Starling Park • Almont Park • Sunset Ridge Park • Arberdeen Parkette • Sylvan Brook Parkette • Belair Way Park • Tammy Breda Park • Bidnertwine Park • Tanana Hill Parkette • Blue Coin Park • Tinsmith Parkette • Blue Willow Square • Torii Park • Chancellor District Park and • Valley Edge Parkette Community Centre • Vaughan Grove Sports Park • Crofters Park • Vaughan Mills Park • Doctors McLean Park • Vellore Heritage Square • Father Ermanno Bulfon Park and • Velmar Downs (West Woodbridge) Community • Weston Downs Centre • Wilson Century Theatre Park • Forest Fountain Park • Woodbridge Avenue Parkette • Fossil Hill Park • Woodbridge Highlands Park • Fred Armstrong Park • Woodbridge Pool and Memorial • George Stegman Park Arena • Giovanni Caboto Park • Hayhoe Park • Humber Valley Parkette • Jersey Creek Park • Joey Panetta Park • Kiloran Park • Kipling Parkette • La Rocca Square • Le Parc Saint Jean de Brebeuf • Maples Park • Marco Park • Maxey Park • McLure Meadows Park • Memorial Hill Park • Michael Fitzgerald Parkette • Michael Barrasso Park • Napa Valley Park • Nort Johnston District Park • Old Firehall Parkette • Parwest Park • Rainbow Creek Park • Ranch Trail Park

35 Humber River State of the Watershed Report – Nature-based Recreation