11/13/2013. About the Waterfront Regeneration Trust About the Waterfront Regeneration Trust Celebrating 20 years of Partnership

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1 About the Waterfront Regeneration Trust Royal y Commission on the Future of the Toronto Waterfront Celebrating 20 years of Partnership Federal and Provincial mandate to look at downtown Toronto waterfront lands Final Report Regeneration Nine waterfront principles-clean, green, connected, affordable, useable, open, diverse, attractive and accessible November 2013 Vicki Barron Waterfront Regeneration Trust About the Waterfront Regeneration Trust Waterfront Regeneration Trust Agency Provincial mandate to implement recommendations Multi-disciplinary work groups on waterfront issues from brownfield remediation, shoreline management, natural heritage, tourism and economic development Create a Waterfront Trail 1

2 About the Waterfront Regeneration Trust 1999 to present Waterfront Regeneration Trust Registered Charity Focus on the Trail Complete, expand and enhance and market Add value to local and regional efforts Strategic Plan in progress; Board direction is to take a Great Lake perspective 30% dedicated off-road paths 30% quiet residential streets or rural roads Completed & in progress enhancements 40% secondary highways Hamilton Pedestrian Bridge over the QEW Windermere Basin Restoration Brant Street Pier, Burlington New Trail in Oakville by Edgemere Estates Inspiration Lakeview, Mississauga 250 acres of new waterfront Mimico Waterfront Park from Norris to Humber Bay Park (Opened 2012) Queen s Quay Promenade in Toronto 6 New parks Ireland Park, H2O, Sugar Beach, Sherbourne Common, Lake Ontario Park, wave decks Completion of the Waterfront Trail from Port Union to the Mouth of the Rouge Creation of the Rouge National Urban Park Frenchman s Bay Master Plan Ajax Shoreline Improvement Plan Ajax acquires waterfront land east of Ontaro Rd. Iroquois Beach, Whitby Oshawa Harbour 27 acres of new waterfront Moving the Trail closer to the water s edge in Port Hope and Cobourg Lovshin/Kerr Street Extension (Cobourg to Port Hope Waterfront Trail and Parks Committee) Acquisition of west beach lands, Cobourg Northumberland Regional loops Cycle Master Plan Closing the Gap between Trenton and Deseronto Hastings Trail Committee Waterfront Development, Prescott New international bridge in Cornwall 2

3 To Red Hill Trail and around the Bay Signage Consistently Signed from Niagara to Quebec in 2007 Directional and l Trail head Signage installed at Quebec Border Connections to VIA Rail Stations (Cobourg, Kingston, Brockville) Welcome Cyclist Signage Bike Train signage Share the Road signage WRT conducts signage audits Poorly maintained signs undermine user confidence in the quality of the Trail Next priorities-signage to the Trail Map book published by MapMobility Google maps are great but still don t replace the old lfashioned print maps at the moment Website free maps and community profiles Information about accommodation close to the Waterfront Trail Receive many inquiries about camping near the Waterfront Trail Next Waterfront Trail App 2007 to 2012 and beyond New Partnerships Lake Erie Communities Ministry of Tourism Transportation Options and Share the Road CAA Ontario Parks Greenbelt Foundation Ragnar Ontario Trillium Foundation 3

4 Overview of Lake Erie extension 600 km from Windsor to Fort Erie Extending to Lakeshore and Tecumseh Continuous, signed route Connect 27+ communities Showcase Carolinian heritage sites Use existing infrastructure (mostly roads; but some significant trails) City of Windsor almost entirely off-road off road dedicated trail at the water s edge Friendship Trail in Fort Erie and Port Colborne 20% off-road Milder climate gives cyclists a longer season Burning Kiln Winery and Eco Resort Potential for lake-wide loop in the future Some excellent north/south connections e.g. Lynn Valley Trail to Brantford 6th GWTA Town of Lakeshore to Fort Erie 7 days Camping Comfy Campers or Hotels Fully supported everyone can do this Promote existing businesses and attractions along route About $110 per day 4

5 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure-Spin-off benefits Catalyst for trail improvements and development 53% rate the Trail as "very good" for cycling; 19% "excellent"; 22% "good Showcases new trail projects and connections Promotes active lifestyles 44% have never been on a multi-day tour 39% surprised at how far they can ride in one day 60% will ride more often as a result of GWTA 63% will use the Waterfront Trail more often; 23% already use the Waterfront Trail Engages the public in waterfront and sustainability issues 81% strongly agree that the Waterfront Trail is important to Lake Ontario's regeneration; 14% agree 70% more aware of issues; 60% are more likely to take an active interest Economic Benefits 69% will spend a minimum of one night in a hotel 10% spend every night in a hotel Daily spending on food approximately $25-34 plus the meal plan 74% spend $50 on bike equipment Great Waterfront Trail Adventure Promotions and Media coverage Tourism Potential-- what Quebec says 2012 Montreal Bike Survey Media summary of 2014 Lake Erie GWTA Website & Print Media Reach = 3,453,496 # of Stories = 41 Facebook Like increased by 40% 41 posts shared by other on the page Weekly total reach during week of event went from 1,000 to 11,500 Twitter Increase in foll0wers Over 70 mentions or tweets directed at GWTA More than 27 retweets & favourites of GWTA content 88% say knowing about Waterfront Trail leads to planning a trip 33% knew about the Waterfront Trail ( 13% from 2011) 88% were interested in touring Lake Erie( 9% from 2011) In 2011 Grande Tour introduced 2,200 Quebec cyclists to Ontario! 40% thinking about travelling to Ontario this year; 45% plan a trip in the next 1 to 3 years that between the 6 of us, the "Team Quebec" members as we like to call ourselves, there are to date some 20 to 25 people we talk to that are almost certain to go on the next GWTA. So what you guys are doing for the Waterfront Trail; getting people to know about it, use it, bringing tourism over, the development of it, it's working!!! Tourism Potential--USA $46.9 billion is spent on meals, transportation, lodging, gifts and entertainment during bike trips and tours. Source: League of American Bicyclists Darren Flusche Policy Analyst, June 2009 Waterfront Trail recognized as one of Canada s best cycling touring routes in recent edition of Adventure Cyclists (48,000 members) Encouraging the WRT to apply for the best international trail award Lynde Shores Waterfront Trail Completes the Waterfront Trail through the Golden Horseshoe by 2015 creating a provincial legacy for the Pan Am Games Hamilton to Oshawa will be largely off-road and connected Creates a significant staging area for the Waterfront Trail Close proximity to GO service Parking Washrooms Addresses one of the major safety concerns on the Waterfront Trail by moving the Trail off 5

6 Rouge National Urban Park WRT working on a new partnership with Parks Canada to support protection and restoration off the th first fi t National N ti l Urban Ub Park Legacy Goal 68 communities and growing 182+ parks and natural areas 152+ arts and culture heritage Connects to Quebec s La Route Verte 1400 km from Windsor to Quebec Border to border! As close to the water s edge as environmentally feasible Expression and demonstration of new approaches to the waterfront and a way to connect people to the work of regeneration Integrate environment, economy and community ecosystem approach Nine waterfront principles-clean, green, connected, diverse, affordable, open, useable, attractive and accessible 2014? Grand Bend Sarnia 6