Rouge National Urban Park expands with land transfer and $21 M visitor centre

The Rouge National Urban Park is a gem of the Greater Toronto Area. Within one hour’s drive of 20 per cent of Canada’s entire population and accessible by public transit, the park provides unparalleled opportunities for visitors to experience the area’s natural, cultural and agricultural heritage while protecting the habitat of thousands of local plant and animal species.

The Government of Canada has announced its intent to transfer the administration of lands with high conservation value from Transport Canada’s Pickering Lands to be included in Rouge National Urban Park. This follows 50 years of public advocacy for the conservation of these lands. This important addition of land would vastly boost park conservation.

“Today is a milestone moment in the history of Rouge National Urban Park,” Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said. “We are taking action for everyone who, over 50 years of activism, advocated to properly conserve some of the Pickering Lands slated for an airport. We will engage with Indigenous partners and the public on this important land transfer to Rouge National Urban Park.”

A $21 million investment will fund a new visitor, learning, and community centre near the Toronto Zoo.

The visitor centre will highlight Indigenous, natural, cultural, and agricultural heritage, ensuring the park remains a vibrant and accessible space for generations to come. The building will feature engaging indoor and outdoor spaces and serve as an iconic gateway into the park, welcoming the diverse communities that live in Canada’s largest metropolitan area.

Rouge National Urban Park is home to 1,700 species, including more than 1,000 plant species, 247 bird species, 73 fish species, 44 mammal species, and 27 reptile and amphibian species.