The City of Brampton recently initiated two programs that provide an integrated environmental focus for their parks and lakes.
Brampton’s approach is referred to as “holistic” – assessing the whole. Their Eco Park and Lake Enhancement Strategies are designed to bring together all elements to achieve integrated community and environmental objectives for their parks and 14 lakes.
Brampton’s Eco Park Vision (2020)
By 2040 all Natural Heritage Systems, parks, and applicable urban spaces within Brampton will be transitioned into a connected network of Eco Spaces forming one grand Brampton Eco Park. Brampton Eco Park is a place that reflects Brampton’s identity, provides unique social services, builds community cohesion, protects, and supports City infrastructure while conserving, enhancing, and celebrating Brampton’s natural landscapes.
Brampton’s Lake Enhancement Strategy (2021)
The Lake Enhancement Strategy aims to transform Brampton lakes into signature citywide destinations within Brampton’s recreational open spaces by presenting conceptual park and lake improvements and recreational programming expansion. This Strategy also aims to incorporate Brampton’s lakes into the Brampton Eco Park by creating animated Eco Spaces that integrate the utilization of outdoor spaces for recreational activities with natural heritage conservation.
Need for an Eco Park and Lake Enhancement Strategy in Markham
Markham has many solid environmental programs, but they are constrained by a departmental focus. There seems to be no one individual, or department with overall responsibility for pulling together an integrated solution nor a comparable Lake Enhancement strategy for Markham’s three major water bodies: Milne Reservoir, Toogood Pond, and Swan Lake.
| Size of Park | Size of Water Body | Bird Species |
Established |
|
| Milne Dam Conservation Park | 123 ha | 21.0 ha | 161 | 1825 |
| Swan Lake Park | 45 ha | 5.4 ha | 155 | 1850 |
| Toogood Pond Park | 33 ha | 3.5 ha | 122 | 1840 |
In March 2022, Friends of Swan Lake Park, circulated a questionnaire to ratepayer groups in Markham to assess their views on the need for these programs. Supporters of Milne Dam Conservation Park and Toogood Pond Park agreed Markham should be adopting similar programs.
FOSLP is calling upon Markham Council to adopt an Eco Park Policy for all parks and a Lake Enhancement Strategy for the three major water bodies.
Read the Full Reports
FOSLP’s Eco Park Questionnaire
Brampton’s Lake Enhancement Strategy