ABOUT US
A COMMUNITY THAT CARES
A COMMUNITY THAT CARES
The Friends of Swan Lake Park are citizens of Markham committed to preserving the biodiversity of Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park.
Founded in 2019, FOSLP is transitioning from its original focus on advocating for the rehabilitation of Swan Lake to organizing stewardship efforts that will help sustain the biodiversity of Swan Lake Park.
The Friends of Swan Lake Park’s long-term goal is the development of a self-sustaining ecosystem that preserves the biodiversity of Swan Lake Park and provides direct enjoyment for all Markham residents.
Markham’s Certificate of Appreciation (June 2026)
At Friends of Swan Lake Park’s June 2026 Loop-the-Lake Eco Fest event, Mayor Frank Scarpitti, on behalf of Markham Council, presented a certificate of appreciation to Friends of Swan Lake Park which states:
“In recognition of your dedication to protecting and restoring Swan Lake and its surrounding parkland, and your commitment to environmental stewardship through community engagement and education. We commend your leadership in raising awareness of habitat restoration and fostering conservation through initiatives such as the Loop-the-Lake Eco Fest, which unites the community in support of a healthier ecosystem.
On behalf of the City of Markham, we extend our sincere gratitude to the Friends of Swan Lake Park for your valuable contributions to environmental conservation and community engagement”.
Advocating for Rehabilitation of Swan Lake Park
Through our years of advocacy, we have convinced Markham to direct resources towards improving the water quality in the lake and to programs that will help sustain the biodiversity of the park, including a review under Markham’s Official Plan to reclassify the park as Natural Heritage lands under Markham’s Greenway system.
The initial 5-year Phase 1 water quality management program resulted in significant improvements in water quality, but staff have advised Council of the need for a continual management program to maintain lake conditions.
In June 2026, Markham Council approved a $900,000 budget for an updated Phase 2 water quality program for Swan Lake that will help sustain water quality over the next 5 years of a 25-year plan. Through our funding efforts, we were able to hire two firms of aquatic biologists to contribute to the development of the Phase 2 plan.
Long-Term Stewardship of Swan Lake Park
FOSLP is now focused on developing long-term stewardship programs to sustain the unique biodiversity of Swan Lake Park in the face of three challenges:
1) Reducing the Impact of Increased Urbanization of the Area
Over 65% of Swan Lake Park is comprised of woodland and naturalized areas that contribute to the canopy of Greensborough and support a wide range of bird and terrestrial wildlife. However, the biodiversity of Swan Lake Park is threatened by increasing urbanization in the area, and it needs protection and nurturing. We have asked, so far without success, that Markham invest in the infrastructure of Swan Lake Park to support the influx of new residents.
2) Sustaining Swan Lake’s Aquatic Environment
Swan Lake has been described as a “constructed wetland” and as such hosts many plant, and animal species associated with wetlands. Ontario Nature notes that 20% of the species at risk in Ontario rely on wetland ecosystems.
Continual improvement in water quality and the development of a sustainable level of aquatic life in Swan Lake is essential to sustaining the broader biodiversity of the park. Additional efforts are required to support the species and their habitat within the wetland areas.
3) Sustaining the Biodiversity of Swan Lake Park
Swan Lake Park is one of the most biodiverse areas in Markham. With 191 species reported on eBIrd.org, the park ranks third for the number of species sighted throughout Markham’s park system.
FOSLP’s goal is to hire professional biologists to advise on how the land-based habitat can be improved to help sustain the many species at risk, which are facing increasing pressure from intense urbanization in the area.
Launch of Three Sustainable Stewardship Programs
During 2026, FOSLP launched three new stewardship programs:
A) Swan Lake Turtle Stewards Program
The goal of our Turtle Stewards program is to help sustain turtles at risk by following the successful Heart Lake Turtle Troopers program, a program that protects turtles from predators and poachers in several conservation areas near Brampton. In 2026, FOSLP installed nest protectors on three nesting sites in the park to protect the sites from predators.
B) Swan Lake Nature Stewards Program
To strengthen the habitat in the park, we initiated a Nature Stewards program to identify and remove invasive plant species with the goal of replanting the area with native species. We are following the approach of the Toronto Nature Stewards, volunteers who help manage over 50 parks throughout Toronto.
In June 2026, Markham Council asked staff to review FOSLP’s request for a 2-year pilot program to remove invasive species from the park. We are hoping for approval by February 2027 so we can launch a removal program for 2027-2028.
C) Butterflyway Program – Supporting Pollinators in the Park
During the summer of 2026, local volunteers with the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway project committed to supporting the two pollinator areas within the park and the Butterflyway canoe near the dock.
Read More About Our Most Recent Activities
Read More About the Phase 2 Water Quality Program
Two Ways You Can Help:
- Register as a Volunteer
- Donate: etransfer funds to treasurerfoslp@gmail.com
