Ontario budget 2023: Talks underway for new protected green space in Uxbridge, provincial park
Posted March 23, 2023 4:05 pm.
Last Updated March 23, 2023 4:24 pm.
As certain details are revealed about the creation of a new Ontario provincial park, newly released budget documents show planning is underway that could see the creation of new, protected green space in the town of Uxbridge.
The creation of a new provincial park was one of the few new announcements in the Ford government’s 2023 budget, but little was revealed at the time it was released. If ultimately built, officials noted it would be the first new provincial park created in four decades.
In the budget released on Thursday, an update said the location of the park and all of the amenities are in the midst of being finalized.
Despite the lack of a definitive park location, government staff said it will have four-season facilities along with areas for swimming, hiking and cross-country skiing. It also will have 250 new campground spaces available for booking.
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Buried in the Ontario budget, officials also said they were “exploring” the creation of a new protected area in Uxbridge, located roughly 75 kilometres from downtown Toronto in Durham Region, as part of an effort to “enhance protection of southern Ontario’s greenspaces.”
The statement came amid ongoing questions about the Ford government’s decision to open up part of Greenbelt for development and add other areas to replace the coveted sections.
CityNews asked officials if the potential protected green space in Uxbridge is connected to plans to reopen the Greenbelt boundaries or if it would be a separate protected area. However, further information wasn’t released by the time of publication.
