Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 6 York Centre), Chair of the City of Toronto’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee, Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth), representatives from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, City staff and members representing various community groups met at Tommy Thompson Park today to cut the ribbon and officially open the missing link of the Martin Goodman Trail along Unwin Avenue near Leslie Street.
This missing link of the Martin Goodman Trail, which spans about 740 metres, completes 22 kilometres of cycling and walking trail along Toronto’s waterfront, from the western to the eastern beaches. The new part of the trail runs parallel to the south side of Unwin Avenue, north of Tommy Thompson Park, in an area known as the Baselands. It stretches from Outer Harbour Marina Road (at Unwin Avenue) all the way to Leslie Street.
The alignment for the trail was chosen to balance trail user safety and the preservation of the significant ecological resources of the Baselands. The completely separated multi-use and accessible trail improves pedestrian and cyclist safety along the waterfront. Features include a resting area, habitat enhancements, low-impact stormwater management features, and native trees and shrubs.
The plan for completing the Martin Goodman Trail’s “missing link” section was part of Waterfront Toronto’s Quick Starts program for several projects along the waterfront. Construction of this final section of the trail began last summer and finished last weekend.
The project was also identified in the City’s Cycling Network Plan, originally adopted by City Council in June 2016 and updated last month. The updated cycling plan aims to connect, grow and renew Toronto’s cycling routes and includes existing, planned and proposed city-wide cycling routes that will eventually form a grid of cycling routes throughout the city.
Quotes:
“I’m proud we have completed the ‘missing link’ in the Martin Goodman Trail. This is another example of the City delivering projects that make travelling, including cycling, in Toronto safer. This section of the Martin Goodman Trail along Tommy Thompson Park is an environmentally significant area of Toronto and is also very popular for residents, who use it to commute or just to get outside. I’m thrilled that it’s now open for everyone to enjoy.”
– Mayor John Tory
“This section of multi-use trail provides safe passage for trail users, is accessible so that everyone can enjoy it and is sustainable. Thank you to our partners and the community for designing and constructing this section of trail in a way that supports overall safety and preserves the significant ecological resources of the Baselands.”
– Councillor James Pasternak
“Opening this beautiful and important missing link on the Martin Goodman Trail means that users, including families and children, finally have a safe route that’s away from the busy roadway. East end residents are now fully connected via the waterfront trail to downtown and all the way to the west end of the city and beyond.”
– Councillor Paula Fletcher
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