New Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park

For many years GDA worked to have ownership of 1300 acres lands held by Infrastructure Ontario preserved for conservation purposes. We felt that these 1300 acres had the potential to create a great connection between the town of Uxbridge and the huge network of trails to the south of Uxbridge. GDA board member John McCutcheon owned some property adjacent to one of these parcels. He donated his land to the Township of Uxbridge with the idea that it might encourage the Province to act. A few other things lined up as well, and on April 22, 2023, we were pleased and proud to be at the announcement of a new provincial park.

What was announced was beyond our wildest dreams – not just 1300 acres but up to 20,000 acres! The additional lands to be added to the park include many land holdings in Uxbridge Township which are currently held by the Region of Durham, the Township of Uxbridge and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. A steering committee was formed and is working to do what is required to make this new park a reality. Members of this committee include Ontario Parks, representatives of the Township of Uxbridge, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Schad Foundation and GDA.

GDA had a booth at the October 23rd Open House to provide information on the planning of this new park. The event was a success with over 450 people in attendance demonstrating the huge public interest in this new endeavour.

In June of 2024 the first part of the new park was officially “born.”

GDA’s role is to identify privately owned parcels of land which will enhance connections between the various land parcels which will make up this new park. We were pleased to receive funding from the Greenbelt Foundation in 2023 and 2024 to assist with costs related to acquisition of land – costs such as appraisals, surveys and in some cases studies. We have been working with certain landowners to secure future trail connections, nature corridors and even parking areas. This is long-term work which we are thrilled to be a part of for the sake of future generations. There are many steps to creating a park and more additions of land to come.