Western Gateway Official Opening Pickering, ON, June 7, 2010 - The Pickering Waterfront Trail winds some 12.2 kilometres along the north shore of Lake Ontario and is separated into three paths; The First Nations Trail, Monarch Trail and The Peak Trail. Pickering's unique location on the shores of Lake Ontario has long attracted settlers to the area. The mouth of the Rouge River is widely considered to have played an important role in the history of the First Nations people in this area. Historically, this area has invited explorers from far and wide. To commemorate this, the City of Pickering in partnership with Waterfront Toronto and Toronto and Region Conservation is thrilled to open the Western Gateway, the newest addition to the waterfront trail. The First Nations Trail is themed as a “Commemoration of Native Settlement”. This section of the First Nations Trail from the Rouge River to Bella Vista Drive and Dyson Road has now been improved and is designed to provide more access to trail users and adds another section in the construction of a seamless waterfront trail. The portion of the trail was originally constructed to take users up the slope with a series of timber and asphalt steps and wooden ramps had deteriorated over the years. Recent construction on the trail has seen the installation of a grand new staircase leading up to Dyson Road from the trail.
A new pedestrian bridge is perched high above Rouge Beach providing an incredible vista of Lake Ontario in a serene boardwalk style setting. A delightful stroll across the bridge reconnects you with the natural beauty of the lake and the abundance of waterfront activities waiting to be soaked in throughout the summer. “Pickering’s waterfront is the shimmering jewel of the city,” said Mayor Dave Ryan. “The new Western Gateway is another sparkling facet of this jewel, and will greatly enhance our waterfront trail for the enjoyment of both Pickering and Toronto residents.” The project will officially open on June 9 and was made possible with funding from Waterfront Toronto and the City of Pickering. “This project demonstrates that Toronto’s waterfront revitalization efforts are not just about transforming the downtown waterfront. Our plans and redevelopment efforts span Toronto’s entire lakefront, from Mimico in the west to Port Union in the east,” said John Campbell, CEO, Waterfront Toronto. “The Gateway is a great example of our efforts to reconnect people to the lake and provide beautiful and accessible parks and public spaces on the shore of Lake Ontario.” - 30 - As the gateway city to the east GTA, Pickering (population 94,000) is strategically located between Toronto and Durham Region. Pickering is an affluent community that is steeped in history, natural beauty and small town charm with all the amenities and services that a big city has to offer. The City of Pickering is considered a municipal leader in fiscal management, service delivery, sustainability and the environment; and offers a wealth of sports, leisure and recreation opportunities for residents. Pickering has been recognized as a Youth Friendly Community and is a 5 Bloom Communities in Bloom winner. The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization. Media Contact: |
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