Elgin Mills Greenway Restoration Project

Notice to trail users: construction underway

Restoration work is underway and as a result, a portion of the Elgin Mills Greenway is closed. The project includes construction of modern stormwater infrastructure, new trails, lookout structures and a boardwalk. Work is expected to be complete by spring 2019 (weather permitting).

View a map showing the open/closed portions of the trail, as well as the conceptual design.

Elgin Mills Greenway Restoration

The Elgin Mills Greenway is a City-owned parcel of open space near Twickenham Park just south of Shaftsbury Avenue, between St. Theresa of Lisieux School and the Elgin West Community Centre. The East Don River runs through this open space, which has an asphalt trail and several pedestrian bridges crossing the river. The Elgin West stormwater management facility is also located in this open space just south of the Elgin West Community Centre.

Extreme storm events and high-flowing water through the Elgin Mills Greenway in 2013 and 2014 caused severe erosion in the creek channel resulting in a partially collapsed trail and structurally unsound pedestrian bridge. To ensure the safety of residents, a temporary wood chip trail was constructed to redirect pedestrian traffic around the damaged asphalt trail and pedestrian bridge, which has been removed.

The City undertook an Environmental Assessment Study to evaluate restoration options for the damaged infrastructure, open space area and the Elgin West stormwater management pond. A preferred solution was chosen after extensive investigation into the natural, social, technical and economic factors influencing the area. The preferred solution consists of:

• Relocating the stormwater management pond to the north end of the Elgin Mills Greenway at Shaftsbury Avenue;
• Constructing a small, dry detention pond near the existing stormwater management pond;
• Adding a filter called an oil-grit separator to the existing storm sewer system at Larratt Lane to improve the quality of the water entering the stream; and
• Incorporating new and existing trails and lookouts into the design.