Rouge Park is a large natural environment park in Canada's most urbanized area, located in east Toronto and the large neighbouring town of Markham, in York Region. The lands now in the park were once home to resorts and cottages from the late 1800s to the 1950s. It is the only large valley land area in Toronto where people can still enjoy a wilderness experience, since other rivers in the city are now surrounded by urban development. People can still live a rural life, and even farm in the park. It is the only remaining rural area within the city of Toronto.
Established in 1995 by the Province of Ontario, the park consists of 50 square kilometres (12356 acres) of parkland, in Toronto, Pickering and Markham. The park protects 12% of the Rouge River watershed, with park lands also protecting small parts of the Petticoat Creek and Duffins Creek watersheds, to the East. The Rouge River remains the healthiest river that flows through Toronto. Ecological preservation and restoration were needed. Preservation of near-urban agriculture is the park's main objective, though a recent decision to end leases for over 700 acres (2.8 km2) of farmland has generated considerable controversy.
Rouge is the largest nature park within a core of a metropolitan area in North America. It stretches from Lake Ontario in the south, Lake Ontario north to the post-glacial Oak Ridges Moraine in York Region.
The park is open with free admission to visitors year-round. Camping fees at seasonal campground apply. There are 12 km of rustic hiking trails in the Toronto part of the park. In Toronto, the park is accessible by public transport by TTC buses, and GO transit trains and buses.
The Rouge Valley in the southern portion near Lake Ontario rises to 100m, but at the source the river valley rises to under 300m in height.
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Parks
- Bruce Mills Conservation Area, Richmond Hill, Ontario
- Phyllis Rawlinson Park, Richmond Hill, Ontario
- Toogood Pond, Markham, Ontario
- Milne Park, Markham, Ontario
- Glen Rouge Park, Toronto
- Rouch Beach Park, Toronto
- Bob Hunter Memorial Park, Markham
Golf Courses
There are three golf courses that has the Rouge running through it:
- Parkview Golf Course, Markam - Remington Homes owned course formerly part of IBM Canada Golf Course
- Markham Green Golf Course, Markam - formerly part of IBM Canada Golf Course
- Cedar Brae Golf and Country Club, Toronto
Waterways
- Rouge River, Toronto and Markham,
- Morningside Creek, Toronto and Markham
- Carleton Creek, Markham
- Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill
- Little Rouge Creek, Markham and Toronto
- Berczy Creek, Markham
See also
References
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