Rouge Park Wild in the City!

1. Rouge Park Wild in the City!

2. Rouge Park • A major regional park in York and Durham Regions and Toronto, accessible by public transit throughout the GTA • An important natural, cultural and agricultural landscape in the Rouge River, Petticoat Creek and Duffins Creek watersheds. • Unique, award winning • Big, the largest natural environment park in an urban area in North America, (over 40 km2) • A major reservoir of biodiversity in Ontario’s Greenbelt in York and Durham Regions and Toronto • A singular example of federal, provincial and local cooperation.

3. Rouge Park Trails & Visitor Areas • Woodlands Area • Rouge Beach • Glen Rouge Campground • Restoration Wetlands • Glen Eagles Vista • Trails: • Finch Meander • Riverside/Mast • Cedar • Orchard • Vista • Woodlands

4. Rouge Parkis AboutConnections Moraine

5. Rouge Park has: • 762 plant species, including 6 which are nationally rare and 92 which are regionally rare. • 225 bird species, 5 of which are nationally rare breeding birds and 4 other breeding birds of special concern as well as numerous locally rare, area-sensitive raptor and colonial birds • 54 fish species, 2 of which are nationally vulnerable • 27 mammal species, some are locally rare • 19 reptile and amphibian species, some are locally rare

6. Rouge Park Alliance: Strong Partnership Support

7. Rouge Park’s Vision and Goal Rouge Park Vision Rouge Park will be a special place of outstanding natural features and diverse cultural heritage in an urban-rural setting, protected and flourishing as an ecosystem in perpetuity. Human activities will exist in harmony with the natural values of the park. The park will be a sanctuary for nature and the human spirit. Rouge Park Goal To protect, restore and enhance the natural, scenic and cultural values of the park in an ecosystem context, and to promote public responsibility, understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of this heritage.

8. Rouge Park Objectives Natural Heritage Cultural Heritage Land Use Management Interpretation Recreation Agriculture

9. Exciting Things Are Underway! Bob Hunter Memorial Park Exploring Options for Visitor Use Areas Fun stewardship Activities Rouge Days Trail Master Plan Consolidated Plan

10. Rouge ParkTrail Master Plan

11. Why Do We Need a Trail Master Plan? • Rouge Park is a growing park! Established in 1994, Rouge Park was 2350 hectares (5800 acres) and has since grown to 4000 hectares (10 000 acres). • Rouge Park has a strong focus on restoring the land to a thriving and diverse habitat. In order to plan for future restoration efforts we must first establish where the location of public use areas thus preventing conflict between sensitive habitat and visitor impact. • The population of the surrounding areas including Markham is growing at a rapid pace. By establishing our Trails Master Plan we will develop a set of guidelines for trails, assisting us as we work with our partners to protect and enhance this natural sanctuary. • There are numerous plans in place for lands within and surrounding Rouge Park. • Heritage and Appreciation and Visitor Experience (HAVE) Plan, • the Bob Hunter Memorial Park Area Plan and our • Natural Heritage Action Plan. • Greenbelt Plan, • York Region Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan, and • Markham’s Pathways and Trails Master Plan.

12. Proposed Draft Vision The vision for the Rouge Park is proposed to be as follows: The Rouge Park Trail System will serve as a means to understand and appreciate the unique natural, cultural and agrcultural attributes of the park through heightened visitor experience and immersion in the landscape. The system will offer a range of experiences and recreational opportunities to meet the needs of all ages and physical abilities. These trails will offer positive experiences in all seasons of the year to both new users and people who use them on a regular basis. The trails system will also respect the need to protect the outstanding natural features and diverse cultural heritage of the park by managing appropriate public access and patterns of use while still providing a rewarding experience in nature. 13

13. Goals for the Proposed Trail Network • Protect important natural heritage features • Protect existing natural heritage features and functions • Enhance habitat connectivity, diversity and function where possible • Avoid fragmentation • Avoid steep slopes and areas prone to flooding or erosion • 2. Provide a continuous north-south and east-west linkage • Provide for a multi-use trail connection from the Waterfront to the Oak Ridges Moraine • Provide key linkages to connect neighbourhoods adjacent Rouge Park • Provide a multi-modal trail network that maximizes accessibility and is integrated with public transit • Protect, respect and celebrate significant cultural heritage resources • Capitalize on interpretive opportunities • Avoid sensitive cultural heritage features and landscape 56

14. Trail Alignment Principles Natural Heritage 2. Cultural Heritage 3. Agriculture 4. Recreation 5. Connectivity 6. Public Access and Safety 14

15. Trails and visitor facilities • Trail Types: • Multi-Use • Natural Surface • Accessible • Boulevard • Identify municipal / regional trail systems and other Rouge Park trails adjacent to the East Lands. • Bob Hunter Memorial Park trails • Seaton Trails • Markham Trails and Pathways • Trans Canada Trail • Oak Ridges Trails

16. Rouge Park Trail Master Plan Progress • Committee consists of partner organizations and stakeholders • Schollen Inc. has been hired to complete the study • Phase One Completed • Gathering information from various resources • Ground level investigations • Initial Public consultation • Phase Two • Draft trail alignments • Further consultation with partners and stakeholders • Public Open House, Monday March 7 at Markham Museum • Next Steps • Obtain further public feedback • Circulate draft master plan to Rouge Park Alliance • Share draft master plan with partner organizations

17. Proposed Trail Network in Relation to Contextual Trail System 45

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22. Rouge ParkExciting Volunteer Opportunities

23. Volunteer-based wildlife monitoring 335 volunteers engaged in wildlife monitoring in 2010: • Frog Watch • Salamander board monitoring • Breeding Bird surveys • Winter bird count • Mammal surveys

24. Winter Bird Count • -119 Volunteers participated in 2011 Winter Bird Count (Jan 8). • 58 species of birds • Almost 6000 birds counted

25. Volunteer-based ecological monitoring

26. Native Wildflower Demonstration Gardens • Glen Rouge Campground • Markham Museum • In 2011 potentially work together with Rouge Valley Conservation Centre

27. Invasive species removals

28. Litter Cleanups

29. Rouge Park Frog Watch 3rd annual Frog Watch to take place in 2011 70 volunteers engaged in 2010. 6 species of frogs found in wetlands throughout Rouge Park