Ontario Construction News staff writer
Parks Canada last week announced milestones reached on a proposal to build a new national urban park in Windsor, with completion of the much-anticipated Ojibway Shores land transfer from Transport Canada.
The Ojibway Shores property has significant ecological value. It includes the only remaining undeveloped shoreline of the Detroit River in the Windsor-Detroit area and offers a vital ecological connection between the river and the Ojibway Prairie Complex.
Creating a national urban park in the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy is an opportunity to support and foster First Nations’ leadership and stewardship in conserving and restoring the lands and waters. The Detroit River is also culturally significant in terms of Black history and its connection to the underground railroad.
Ojibway Shores is planned for inclusion in the proposed national urban park.
With the land transfer, the federal Government will begin remediation. Ojibway Shores provides critical habitat for many rare and threatened species. It is also an important stop-over for migratory birds including eight species at risk and the natural shoreline acts as a movement corridor and provides nesting habitat for turtles such as the endangered Spiny Softshell.
Also, a pre-feasibility phase has been completed for the proposed park, confirming the site aligns with the National Urban Parks Program objectives.
Parks Canada bought a $1.3 million residential property from the City of Windsor, which was needed to restore the land and improve ecological connectivity between the surrounding natural areas that all lie within the proposed park study area.
As well, Parks Canada released a background document and discussion paper today to solicit input from partners, stakeholders, and the public to inform a new National Urban Parks Policy.
This new policy will guide the designation and management of new national urban parks across the country to ensure that they meet the program objectives of conserving nature, connecting people with nature, and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
“It is exciting to see this significant milestone met as we continue towards the establishment of the Ojibway National Urban Park,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. “With the inclusion of Ojibway Shores, remediation and cleanup operations able to begin, and completion of the pre-feasibility phase for the project, we inch closer to realizing our shared vision every day.
The Ojibway Shores lands are currently vacant, undeveloped, and accessible to the public. They are adjacent to the Gordie Howe International Bridge Canadian plaza site and to land within the Ojibway Prairie Complex, a collection of five closely situated municipal and provincial parks and natural areas.
Creating a national urban park in Windsor is an opportunity to champion Indigenous stewardship, elevate Indigenous perspectives and storytelling, and promote connections to lands and waters based on Indigenous Knowledge and values.
In addition to the City of Windsor, Parks Canada has launched exploratory processes for other potential national urban parks in various municipalities across Canada including Victoria (BC), Edmonton (AB), Saskatoon (SK), Winnipeg (MB), and Halifax (NS). Early discussions are also underway in Montreal (QC).
New national urban parks will be managed under a range of flexible governance models, including federally administered places, third party administered places, and various partnership approaches.
The new National Urban Parks Policy will guide the designation and management of new national urban parks across the country to ensure that they meet the program objectives of conserving nature, connecting people with nature, and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
The vast network of protected areas administered by Parks Canada is a gateway to nature, history, and 450,000 sq. km. of memories from coast to coast to coast.
With its well-known network of urban cultural heritage sites, as well as Rouge National Urban Park, Parks Canada has a strong presence and a long history of conservation in urban areas.