Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region Concept page 12/13 Concept The concept for the Greater In the evolving areas of northern Vaughan, Where possible, conceptual trails are located Toronto Region Trail Network Richmond Hill, King, Mayfield and Bolton, within the natural system of our watersheds opportunities exist for land acquisition to to provide a continuous trail system in realizes our vision by building grow, enhance and protect habitat and greenspace. Where this is not possible, provide trails. New communities coming to conceptual trails are located within the urban on the existing regional trail northern Markham and Seaton hold exciting fabric of our communities to facilitate the system and capitalizing prospects to acquire greenway corridors goal of regional connectivity to greenspace, that would link the spectacular Rouge River neighbourhoods, employment lands, transit on current growth and and Duffins Creek systems to the Lake and mobility hubs. Ontario waterfront. development opportunities In realizing these future connections, There are approximately 530 kilometres the detailed trail alignments, design and to strategically expand of regional trails in our greenspace system. operation should avoid, mitigate and / or greenspace and trails The concept proposes almost 570 additional compensate for impacts to the natural kilometres of trail to complete a regional system. Trails should be sited to avoid through a variety of trail system of 1,100 linear kilometres. It also sensitive habitats, species and natural proposes investment in 10 conservation hazards, consistent with The Living City development mechanisms. destination areas to enhance the trail Policies. Many of the conceptual trails extend network and provide amenities. The beyond lands that TRCA owns or manages proposed trail alignments are conceptual and require collaboration with member and represent goals. municipalities, private landowners and other agencies. The following is a summary of the concept for the Greater Toronto Region Trail Network. Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region Concept page 14/15 The concept proposes almost 570 additional kilometres of trail to complete a regional trail system of 1,100 linear kilometres. Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region Concept page 16/17 1 Figure 4.a: Trail Typologies Five trail typologies comprise the conceptual 5 Exisiting km Concept km Total framework for the Greater Toronto Region Trail 3 Network. These categories of trail are: Ridge, 2 Valley, Corridor, Waterfront and Blue DURHAM PEEL trails. Some of the trails described by these YORK 87.8 (16.5%) 15.8 (2.8%) 103.6 (9.4%) typologies are existing regional trails, while others are new corridors or gap connections. 4 6 226.1 (42.4%) 124.7 (22.0%) 350.8 (31.9%) The Ridge trails feature the historic Bruce Trail, spanning the rugged TORONTO Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Trail, 9 10 stretching across the Oak Ridges Moraine. 153.7 (28.8%) 325.7 (57.4%) 479.4 (43.6%) 7 The Valley trails comprise existing 8 LAKE ONTARIO north-south ravine and valley routes, 65.2 (12.2%) 8.5 (1.5%) 73.7 (6.7%) including the Black Creek Trail, the Etobicoke Creek Trail, the Humber Trail, the Lower Don Trail, the Pan Am Path and the Seaton Trail, Ten destinations provide key 1. At the Hills of the snowshoeing trails can be found Headwaters, the cliffs and in the Forested Headwaters at 0 (0%) 92.9 (16.4%) 84.9 (8.4%) as well as proposed expansions of trails that places of interest throughout caves of the Niagara Escarpment TRCA’s East Duffins Headwaters traverse urban forests and valley lands. the network where visitors can converge with the forests and properties. hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine be immersed in nature, and nature can be explored 6. Further south, the Black The Corridor trails provide additional at Glen Haffy and Albion Hills Creek Parklands offer urban experience year-round seasonal Conservation Areas. greenspace in proximity to east-west greenway linkages integrated beauty and observe breathtaking transit, active transportation 2. In the Humber Valley routes and rapidly densifying into existing roadway, railway, pipeline and scenery. The concept proposes Wilderness, Nashville communities, from the future hydro corridors. Conservation Reserve, Kortright Vaughan Metropolitan Centre to investment in these conservation Centre for Conservation and Downsview Park. hubs to enhance the network Boyd Conservation Areas form The Waterfront trail stretches along a continuous corridor of mixed 7. Toward Lake Ontario, the as a world-class, nature-based forests, valleys and meadows Humber Parklands connect the shore of Lake Ontario, connecting along the Humber Trail. people to the idyllic greenspaces trail experience. of the Eglinton Flats, Humber communities, parks and natural areas across 3. The Kettle Lakes district Marshes and the Humber Bay the waterfront. in the Oak Ridges Corridor Park. Conservation Reserve (ORCCR) provides vistas of Lake Wilcox, 8. In the heart of Canada’s The Blue trails propose opportunities Swan Lake and Bond Lake along largest city, the Toronto the Oak Ridges Trail through Harbour engages us with the to explore certain navigable shoreline the growing community of shoreline and the water that sustains us. areas of Lake Ontario and the mouths of Richmond Hill. the Humber, Don and Rouge Rivers and 4. A national gem, Rouge 9. The Forks of the Don evokes National Urban Park is a rich Toronto’s industrial past, with Duffins Creek. tapestry of working farms, Todmorden Mills and the Don Carolinian forests, marshes, Valley Brick Works situated in beaches and trails. Toronto’s lush ravines. This cohesive framework provides the 5. The largest area of interior 10. Along the waterfront, the backbone for building out the diversity forest habitat, as well as Scarborough Bluffs are a of experience found in our regional trail exceptional hiking, mountain natural wonder that soar up to biking, cross-country skiing and 90 metres above Lake Ontario. network (see Figure 4.a: Trail Typologies). Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region Concept page 18/19 This network prioritizes The Greater Toronto Region Trail Network active living, connecting will connect people to these 10 exceptional destinations through recreational and active people to public transit transportation-based trail experiences that and active transportation cross regional boundaries. This network prioritizes active living, connecting people opportunities while to public transit and active transportation Figures 4.b.- 4.f: discouraging automobile opportunities while discouraging automobile Concept Maps use while discouraging use. Providing trails that support these activities is a key resiliency strategy in The following pages of Concept Maps automobile use. favour of climate change adaptation and illustrate the proposed Greater Toronto mitigation for our region by helping to reduce Region Trail Network. The concept greenhouse gas emissions. identifies the existing trail system, growth areas and key missing links This network supports active transportation and proposes opportunities for trail by providing a safe off-road network within connections to TRCA Conservation greenspace for people to move about their Areas and destinations that would link daily lives, linking people to greenspace, into the regional and municipal trail neighbourhoods, employment lands, transit systems. Many of the opportunities to and mobility hubs. It helps address the be investigated extend beyond TRCA’s first-and-last-mile regional transit issue, as greenspaces and will require collaboration well as combating road congestion. It will with member municipalities, private create more equitable access to trails and landowners, and other agencies. This greenspace by improving accessibility to concept builds on current growth and conservation areas and greenspace across development opportunities. The proposed our region. It will allow a wider population to alignments are conceptual corridors and access a backyard nature experience. It will represent goals. move us closer toward building sustainable communities that minimize our collective The conceptual alignments are based on impact on the environment. The concept for data current as of November 2018. the Greater Toronto Region Trail Network is illustrated in Figures 4.b.- 4.f: Concept Maps. Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region Concept page 20/21 Figure 4.b: Concept Plan: Greater Toronto Region Trail Network Trails: Existing Proposed Blue proposed Land Use: TRCA jurisdiction TRCA property Rouge National Urban Park Greenbelt Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region Concept page 22/23 Right Figure 4.c: Concept Plan: North West Trails: Existing Proposed Land Use: TRCA jurisdiction TRCA property Rouge National Urban Park Greenbelt Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region Concept page 24/25 Left Figure 4.e: Concept Plan: Central Trails: Existing Proposed Blue proposed Land Use: TRCA jurisdiction TRCA property Rouge National Urban Park Greenbelt Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region Concept page 26/27 Right Figure 4.d: Concept Plan: North East Trails: Existing Proposed Blue proposed Land Use: TRCA jurisdiction TRCA property Rouge National Urban Park Greenbelt Trail Strategy for the Greater Toronto Region Concept page 28/29 Trails: Existing Proposed Blue proposed Land Use: Above TRCA jurisdiction Figure 4.f: Concept TRCA property Plan: South Rouge National Urban Park Greenbelt.