The south end of the Swan Lake Park is heavily used by residents with mobility challenges from two adjacent retirement communities, Amica Swan Lake and Swan Lake Village.
During discussions with Markham Council in 2020, the Friends of Swan Lake Park asked the city to address three areas that impact accessibility and usability of the park, said the group’s chair Fred Peters.
In spring of 2021, staff quickly repaired the damaged asphalt pathway system within the park but indicted that completion of the pathway around the lake and new sidewalks around the traffic circle on Swan Lake Boulevard would not be completed until possibly 2023.
Fortunately, Ward 5 Councilor Andrew Keyes intervened and successfully encouraged staff to complete the two remaining projects in the fall of 2021, said Peters.
“We gratefully appreciate the effort Markham has made to improve the accessibility within Swan Lake Park and to make the entrance way safer for all area residents,” Peters said.
The new sidewalks offer improved accessibility features and a much safer passageway for everyone. Previously pedestrians, many with mobility issues, were required to travel through a busy traffic circle to enter the park.
The Swan Lake Boulevard entrance to Swan Lake Park is north of 16th Avenue and midway between Markham Road and 9th Line.
For more information about the work and research done by area residents, visit www.friendsofswanlakepark.ca.
Photo: (L to R) Rain Geiger, Ward 5 Councillor Andrew Keyes, Marilyn Leeds, Fred Peters of Friends of Swan Lake Park, Tom Eliot pose for a photo in front of the new Swan Lake Park sidewalk.