This conservation area just outside Toronto is getting a new boardwalk

A new boardwalk is coming to Ontario’s Lynde Shores Conservation Area in an effort to give the public “blue space” within a critically important ecosystem.

Lynde Shores Conservation Area is known as a premier outdoor attraction in the Whitby area. About 200,000 people visit the area annually. Though a popular destination needs upgrades to maintain its integrity, the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority found that “climate change is already having a negative impact on the biodiversity and resilience of the wetlands.​”

Restoration progress at Lynde Shores Conservation Area 

According to the CLOCA, the team collaborated with the Canada Water Agency (formerly Environment and Climate Change Canada) in 2024. This was done “to enhance the health and resilience of these crucial ecosystems and has developed a series of restoration projects to mitigate the threats facing the coastal wetlands of Lynde Creek and Cranberry Marshes located within Lynde Shores Conservation Area.”

A study was done by the Canada Water Agency to “assess and enhance the resilience of Great Lakes coastal wetlands” and found that the Lynde Shores Coastal Wetlands were particularly sensitive and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

“The results showed that these wetlands could experience a decrease in biodiversity (the variety of plants and animals), resilience (their ability to recover from damage), and water quality,” shared the CLOCA. And this is mainly due to changes like loss of certain types of plants (plants that grow underwater too), meadow marshes, and swamp habitats.

In 2024, they received $2.1M from the Canada Water Agency for restoration purposes and in 2026, more funds were secured from the Province of Ontario’s Wetland Conservation Partnership Program to expand the restoration projects at Lynde Shores Conservation Area and complete the Westside Creek Wetland Restoration and Resilience Project.

A number of projects are currently in the works at the conservation area. These include Wetland creation in agricultural or retired agricultural fields, strengthening the barrier beach to maintain wetland separation, establishing viewing mounds made with soil from wetland restoration and a boardwalk designed to give the public “blue space.” This “blue space” refers to an area being near, on, or in water.

New boardwalk to explore

As previously mentioned, part of the funds provided are going towards enhancements, one of which is a new boardwalk.

Per CLOCA, less than 200 metres from the main parking lot is where the new boardwalk will be found. It’s 30 metres long and was “designed to increase local access to blue space.”

In a Facebook post, the team states it will have water on both sides, and the shoreline will be graded and planted to create an optimal frog habitat for some stellar viewing. “The piles have already been installed, and the boardwalk will be completed within a few months!”

It’s just a matter of time before the boardwalk opens up. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for this summer season.

In the meantime, keep Lynde Shores Conservation Area in mind for a fun day trip out of the city.

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