A new 26-hectare conservation area along Mississauga's Lake Ontario shoreline is now open to visitors, just in time for summer.
The Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area, located west of Marie Curtis Park, transforms a once-industrial stretch of the Lakeview waterfront into a naturalized green space with wetlands, forests, meadows, trails and boardwalks, according to a City of Mississauga news release.
The area is named after the late Ward 1 Councillor Jim Tovey, who championed the revitalization of the Lakeview shoreline and advocated for reconnecting residents with Lake Ontario. Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko continued the project's momentum in collaboration with community partners, the City said.
The conservation area is part of an award-winning shoreline restoration project led by Credit Valley Conservation, with support from the City of Mississauga, the Region of Peel and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
Environmental restoration work included rebuilding shoreline habitat, reconnecting Serson Creek to Lake Ontario, and planting thousands of trees and wetland species, the City said.
The project was developed over the past decade through partnerships among several public agencies. CVC and TRCA led the environmental planning, ecological restoration, shoreline naturalization and long-term conservation management of the site, while the Region of Peel contributed land ownership, infrastructure co-ordination and regional environmental planning.
The City said local Indigenous communities, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, helped shape the vision and stewardship approach for the site, which sits on the Head of the Lake Treaty lands. The conservation area includes Indigenous placemaking features and an Indigenous Teaching Amphitheatre.
The project also received funding support from the federal and provincial governments through programs focused on environmental restoration, climate resilience and public infrastructure.
Access and trail network
The new trails extend the area's existing network, making it easier for residents to walk or cycle rather than drive, the City said. The conservation area connects with plans for six new waterfront parks in Lakeview Village, a 177-acre mixed-use development that will add 18.5 hectares of new parkland to Mississauga's eastern waterfront.
City officials noted the green space supports the Healthy City Strategy by expanding affordable access to places to be active, an aim tied to addressing health disparities. The City said the rate of type 2 diabetes in most Mississauga neighbourhoods exceeds Ontario's average of 9.8 per cent.
There is no parking at the conservation area itself. Visitors must enter and exit through Marie Curtis Park at 2 Forty Second St. in Etobicoke, the only available parking location.
The City is advising visitors to check the conservation area's parks page and the Parks Advisories page before visiting for daily updates on which trail sections are affected by upcoming work.
