This is one of two new pedestrian bridges that have been built as part of the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area. (Photo: Credit Valley Conservation)

A new waterfront conservation area slated to open in two months in Mississauga’s south end will “transform a once-industrial shoreline into a vibrant natural space along Lake Ontario,” those in charge of the major restoration project say.

Scheduled to welcome the public for the first time the last week of May, the 64-acre Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area is a joint restoration project led by Credit Valley Conservation, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Region of Peel. The cities of Mississauga and Toronto have also contributed to the massive undertaking.

Credit Valley Conservation officials said on Friday those who visit the large natural area once it opens to the public will enjoy a number of stunning sights and peaceful surroundings.

Here’s what visitors to the new conservation area can expect

Named for the late Mississauga city councillor who worked to bring the project to fruition, the new $59-million conservation area, CVC says, will offer visitors:

Scenic trails along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.
Accessible boardwalks through wetlands and natural habitats.
Beautiful views of Lake Ontario.
Wildlife-watching opportunities to see birds and other species.
Meadows, wetlands and forests restored for nature.
Connections to nearby parks and the waterfront trail network.

Expected to be an environmental “gem” in the southeast corner of Canada’s seventh-largest city, the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area was initially expected to open last July before it encountered a nearly year-long delay.

Built on a previously degraded section of shoreline, the conservation area reuses construction rubble and fill as a sustainable resource to create a greenspace that will connect the community back to Lake Ontario, project leaders say.

Lakeview Village, a large new mixed-use community, and the new conservation area are being developed on the site that was once home to Lakeview Generating Station. It was shut down in 2005, complete with the controlled demolition of the iconic smokestacks known for decades as “The Four Sisters.”

Thousands of native trees, shrubs have taken root

Project leaders said in early February that crews were busy at the time ensuring native trees and shrubs take root and survive for generations to come at the new natural area.

“While the trees and shrubs at Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area rest through winter, our restoration work continues. Crews are at (the conservation area) ensuring every planting project is set up for long-term success,” Credit Valley Conservation officials said in a post to social media earlier this winter. 

“To support long-term forest health and resilience, we closely track survival and establishment, infill with replacement trees and shrubs as needed, and apply a range of protective measures to reduce wildlife browse and herbivory impacts. Since 2017, tens of thousands of native trees and shrubs have taken root across this newly built conservation area, helping to create healthier habitats and a more resilient shoreline for years to come.”

A recent look at the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area in Mississauga. (Photo from Credit Valley Conservation X video)

Another recent endeavour saw the local conservation authority install a surveillance camera on one of the trails on the site in an attempt to capture images of all animals that come and go over the winter and early spring.

“In previous warmer seasons, we’ve captured (images of) white-tailed deer, kingfishers, trumpeter swans, snapping turtles and more as they began calling this new conservation area home,” the CVC said.

Among other relatively recent developments at the conservation area site was the placement of two new pedestrian bridges last September (see video below).

Officials said those crossings “will connect trails, boardwalks and lookouts across the 26-hectare waterfront site, transforming a former industrial space into a vibrant green oasis for people and wildlife.”

 


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