COVID-19 Notice
The Valley pathways in the Bowmanville and Soper creeks remain open to those who wish to walk and cycle as long as they maintain the appropriate social (physical) distancing from each other. Please remember certain activities are forbidden on these public lands including the use of all-terrain vehicles and fishing out of season.
Valleys 2000, abiding by standards defined by DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada), MNR (the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry), CLOCA (Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority), and the Municipality, will work exclusively with the Municipality to build a strategic vision to develop, enhance, promote and preserve; trails, river bank improvements, informational signage, fish and wildlife habitat and special natural areas along parts of the Bowmanville and Soper Creek Valleys in any works it undertakes.
Valleys 2000 furthers the development of the hiking trails and the living outdoor activity area within the Bowmanville and Soper Creek Valley, which are river valleys running through the heart of Bowmanville, Ontario.
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Valleys 2000 shares bold vision for former Bowmanville Zoo landsValleys 2000–the local non-profit group dedicated to protecting and promoting green space in Bowmanville–is sharing its vision for a signature public park on the former Bowmanville Zoo lands. On April 24, the plan was received by the Municipality of Clarington at a Special Meeting of the Planning and Development Committee.
Valleys 2000 hired The Planning Partnership–a leading landscape architect that designed Evergreen Brickworks Park in Toronto–to create a high-level concept for creative use of this space. In the fall of 2022, The Planning Partnership hosted a visioning session (“charette”) with Valleys 2000 board members, municipal staff and community leaders, including representatives from Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, which helped inform the proposed plan.
“Many of us have fond memories of The Bowmanville Zoo. When 34 acres of these lands were given to the Municipality of Clarington for public use, we saw an opportunity to help create a bold and ambitious vision for a municipal park that will attract residents from across Clarington and beyond,” said Ron Strike, President of Valleys 2000. “Our vision for this space will honour the history of the lands, protect the natural environment, expand Bowmanville’s trail system, and create new cultural and community spaces for everyone to enjoy.”
Key features of the design vision include:
Community and cultural components: including a natural amphitheater for outdoor performance space, recreation and playground spaces, picnic areas and public art honouring the legacy of the Bowmanville Zoo.
Educational elements: including outdoor classrooms and a community demonstration garden area for ecology and urban agriculture.
Natural features: with a focus on protecting and enhancing Soper Creek’s ecological health, the plan also includes ponds, meadows and woodlands to provide habitat and protection for birds, pollinators, fish and other wildlife.
Trails: providing important connections both within the park and as part of the larger Soper Creek Trail system, contributing to Valleys 2000’s vision for a Resilient Circle of Green.
View the full Bowmanville Zoo Land Park Concept Report.
Valleys 2000 would like to thank all the community partners who contributed to this vision; especially the Municipality of Clarington for working collaboratively on this unique approach to public lands development. As part of its proposed Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the Municipality of Clarington’s next phase of planning will assess the feasibility, scope, costing, and phasing of implementation. Note that the concept is a vision – not a final approved plan – and additional planning and community consultation will take place.
Valleys 2000 has committed to fundraise to support the park’s development through donations, corporate sponsorships, and exploring the possibilities for provincial and federal grants and funding. Visit www.valleys2000.ca to learn more. [...]
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Valleys 2000 is seeking new board members!Are you passionate about the Valleys? Do you want to be a part of protecting and enhancing Bowmanville’s natural environment for the community to enjoy? Have you got a special set of skills that would help make Bowmanville’s incredibly popular paths, trails, greenspace and waterways even better?
The Valleys 2000 Board is the governing board responsible for raising funds and awareness to help improve the Valleys. We are currently accepting applications from people who are interested in serving in a member-at-large position.
The Board meets about six times a year for formal meetings, in addition to occasional special events and projects.
Applicants must live in Clarington and be willing to make a two-year commitment to the board. Please apply by submitting a CV and cover letter to to [email protected] by December 31, 2022. We’d love to hear about your experience and any skills you would bring to help improve the Valleys experience for the people of Clarington. The Valleys Board will review applications and be in touch with potential candidates in the new year. [...]
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Bowmanville Creek South parking lot reconstruction and access restrictionsSee this article on Clarington.net – https://www.clarington.net/en/news/bowmanville-creek-south-parking-lot-reconstruction-and-access-restrictions.aspx
Starting the week of November 14, 2022, work will begin on the reconstruction of the Bowmanville Creek South Parking Lot located on the north side of Baseline Road, 140 metres east of Spry Avenue in Bowmanville. It is anticipated that construction will take approximately four weeks to complete and will include the following:
Grading and placement of granulars
Asphalt surfacing
Parking curb installation
Signage
Line painting
Clearing and grubbing
Drainage improvements
To ensure public safety, access to the parking lot and Bowmanville Creek Trail will be restricted during construction. Notice and signage will be provided to trail users before closure, however, the Bowmanville Creek Trail can still be accessed via the locations highlighted on the map.
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