Restoration of Small’s Creek part of GO Expansion plans
- Press Room
- Restoration of Small’s Creek part of GO Expansion plans
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New boardwalk and native vegetation being added to east Toronto neighbourhood
May 8 – With track widening work wrapping up, Metrolinx is set to start construction on a new boardwalk to connect an east Toronto neighbourhood to the local ravine.
The transit agency has been working along the Lakeshore East GO Line for the last two years to make room for an additional track and the future electrification of the line, all in the name of more frequent and faster GO Train service.
Part of that work required Metrolinx to use a portion of the ravine for construction. The area is now ready to be restored – with important improvements to be made at the same time.
New retaining walls alongside the Lakeshore East GO Line which enable crews to install a new track. (Metrolinx image)
With a new culvert in place in the North Williamson Ravine, Small’s Creek can flow easily underneath the nearby GO Train tracks. Metrolinx will begin restoring the previous dirt walking path with a brand-new wooden boardwalk – connecting two sections of existing boardwalk on either side of the ravine.
Metrolinx is restoring a walking path with a brand-new wooden boardwalk. Artist's rendering. (Metrolinx image)
Boardwalk and nature restoration
To widen the tracks, Metrolinx removed some of the trees and vegetation in the area. In response to calls to minimize the number of trees that needed to be removed, Metrolinx reduced the footprint of the construction to save 60 trees. Through working with vegetation specialists, the transit agency found nearly 70 per cent of the trees and shrubs were invasive species, while the restoration will include native plants, shrubs and trees.
Example of native species (buttonbush) being planted in the Small’s Creek Ravine (Metrolinx image)
Metrolinx worked closely with members of the local community and formed a working group to review proposals for the restoration of the ravine. The working group included officials from the City of Toronto and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, as well as representatives from the local community and Indigenous communities.
As a result of this hard work, the restoration of the ravine will include the planting of hundreds of new native plants, shrubs and trees, including species such as American witch-hazel, buttonbush and fragrant sumac, to name a few.
Example of native species (black cherry) being planted in the Small’s Creek Ravine. (Metrolinx image)
Metrolinx says many of these plants were selected to fit the unique ravine ecosystem to encourage wildlife including the black cherry, which supports butterflies and moths, and also produces fruit eaten by local birds. The fragrant sumac attracts local bird species and pollinators.
Metrolinx thanks the community and its residents for their patience while the area was under construction. In addition to expanded GO Train service, the restored ravine and soon-to-be built boardwalk will be part of the community for generations to come.
The restoration work will begin this spring and be finished in late summer.
Metrolinx is restoring a walking path with a brand-new wooden boardwalk. Artist's rendering. (Metrolinx image)
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