City of Peterborough Invites Public Input on Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements
/Community members are invited to share input on upcoming improvements to a stormwater channel near Parkhill Road within Jackson Park.
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Peterborough Blogs
City of Peterborough Invites Residents To Share Their Opinions On the Jackson Park Management Plan
/The City of Peterborough is inviting residents to provide feedback on the development of a Park Management Plan for Jackson Park by attending a community design charrette and completing a survey.
file photo.
The community design charrette will be held on Jan. 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the McDonnel Street Community Centre, 577 McDonnel St. The project consultant team will introduce the purpose of the Park Management Plan and City staff will be present to answer questions. Attendees will be able to provide comments and share feedback on a set of focus questions to help shape the development of the Plan.
“This charrette is a chance for residents to share their ideas and help shape the future of a park that is valued by the whole community,” said Councillors Kevin Duguay and Joy Lachica, Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management Co-chairs, in a joint statement. “We want Jackson Park to remain a safe, welcoming, and ecologically healthy space for everyone. A grounded and action-oriented plan, developed with community input, will help lead the park’s long-term protection, maintenance and stewardship.”
The comprehensive Park Management Plan will guide how Jackson Park is cared for over the next 10 to 20 years. The plan will protect the park’s integrity while accommodating future needs. It will include priorities, policy guidance, design standards and a monitoring framework to support sustained stewardship, while considering long-term planning factors identified in City studies, such as the Transportation Master Plan.
An Indigenous engagement process will be conducted with Williams Treaties First Nations and the urban Indigenous community. A Working Group made up of City staff, Otonabee Conservation and local civic and community groups will provide strategic guidance at key times throughout the project.
“Jackson Park is a vital cultural and ecological asset in Peterborough and a cherished urban green space,” said the City of Peterborough in a press release. “Located on the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations and covered under the Williams Treaties, the park plays an important role in supporting environmental health and community well-being.”
The City encourages residents to attend the community design charrette and share ideas for the park’s future. Community members can also provide input through the online survey and interactive project map on Connect Peterborough. The survey closes Feb. 20. Hard copies are available at Service Peterborough in City Hall, 500 George St. N.
City of Peterborough Encourages Residents to Celebrate Nature During the Great Canadian BioBlitz
/The City of Peterborough invites residents to step outside and celebrate the beauty of nature, while learning more about local biodiversity during the Great Canadian BioBlitz starting Sunday until Sept. 28.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
The City describes a bioblitz as a fun and educational way to record observations of plants, animals, and fungi, which helps scientists better understand local population sizes and biodiversity trends.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for people to connect with the outdoors and explore the natural beauty of our city,” said City Councillors Joy Lachica and Kevin Duguay. “Whether you’re spotting birds, identifying trees, or just enjoying the fall colours, nature is something we all benefit from in Peterborough.”
The City encourages residents to visit a City park to participate in self-guided bio-blitzes using the iNaturalist app. A complete list of the City’s parks can be found at peterborough.ca/parks.
The Peterborough Field Naturalists are leading three guided walks in Peterborough-area parks to help residents learn more about the species living in the region.
A tree Identification Forest Walk takes place Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 6:30 p.m.to 8 p.m. at Ecology Park, 1899 Ashburnham Dr. Meet at the shelter in the middle of the park by 6:30 p.m.
Two Mushroom Identification Walks are taking place on Sunday, Sept.r 21 and Sunday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mark S. Burnham Provincial Park, 846 Highway 7. Register for the walks at peterboroughnature.org/events.
These free family-friendly walks are open to all levels of nature enthusiasts.
To learn how to use iNaturalist, visit the Peterborough Public Library Learning Portal. Nature sightings can be uploaded directly to the Great Canadian BioBlitz project page in the iNaturalist app using the following link.
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Federal Government Announces $8.5 Million Funding of Two Projects For Conservation Efforts and Ecosystem Protection In Peterborough.
/The Federal Government has invested over $8.5 million in funding for two projects that will help advance conservation efforts and protect ecosystems in Peterborough, announced at Jackson Park on Thursday afternoon.
File Photo.
The announcement was made by Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, and Adam van Koeverden, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
“Protecting nature is one of the best and easiest ways that we can fight climate change,” said Valdez. “These vital ecosystems, like those here in Peterborough, absorb carbon and increase our communities’ resilience to the effects of climate change.”
The Government of Canada has launched the largest conservation campaign in the country’s history in order to meet its emissions reduction targets and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 according to Valdez.
“Our government has launched the largest ever conservation campaign in Canada’s history, with a goal of protecting 30 per cent of lands and waters in Canada,” she said. “That starts with protecting spaces like these. The long-term benefits are enormous, getting us closer to our climate goals and protecting forever the critical habitat of so many species.”
The projects being funded under the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund are:
$7 million for the Kawartha Land Trust to support its work to advance conservation efforts under way by securing an additional 566 hectares of intact temperate forest and freshwater coastal habitat to support 28 species at risk
$1.586 million for the Association of Conservation Authorities of Ontario to protect vital ecosystems from destruction and fund activities that protect at-risk species, including Snapping Turtle, False Hop Sedge and Chimney Swift
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Trent Valley Archives Offering New Walking Tour Through Jackson Park
/Trent Valley Archives (TVA) is offering a new hour and a half walking tour through Peterborough’s Jackson Park on Thursday, June 15.
photo courtesy of trent valley archives.
Jackson Park began as an industrial site before it became a public park in the 1890’s. Later the site of an amusement park and a spot to show outdoor films, the park then became a camp for children with alternative needs in the 1960’s when the City took over the park.
Led by noted historian Karen Carter-Edwards, the tour will explore the fascinating history of this wonderful Peterborough landmark. Participants can discover where the gamblers den, Devil’s gap and famous beach were located.
The tour meets in the upper parking lot through the main gates off Monaghan Road and will commence at 2 p.m.. It will run rain or shine, so TVA asks that participants dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.
The cost is $20 per person and registration/payment in advance is required. Tickets are available on the website by reserving with Heather at 705-745-4404, or by email.
City of Peterborough to Operate a Community Bio-Blitz Starting Friday
/Peterborough is taking part in a community bio-blitz from Friday to Monday as part of the City Nature Challenge competition, announced by The City of Peterborough on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
The City describes a bio-blitz as a ‘survey that identifies wildlife with the goal to understand the biodiversity of a location,’ according to a press release. Nature observations made are uploaded using the iNaturalist app and posted to the Peterborough event page. All natural areas in the city are eligible for nature sightings.
At the end of the bio-blitz, wildlife observations will be tallied to determine the winning communities in Canada.
On Saturday, the City of Peterborough and Peterborough Field Naturalists will host a bio-blitz at Jackson Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It features family-friendly nature walks for residents to learn how to make nature observations while exploring the park. Walks will be approximately one hour, with the first tour at 9 a.m. and the last at 2 p.m., with a break at noon. Guided tours start at the event base camp booth located near the Jackson Park pond and Pagoda Bridge. Residents can also participate in wildlife surveys throughout the park.
A tree will be planted in Jackson Park to celebrate the event as part of the City of Peterborough’s Urban Forestry program.
More information is at peterborough.ca/bioblitz.
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New Public Art Installation To Be Viewed and Celebrated at Jackson Park
/The public art installation Handwritten Moon will be displayed at Jackson Park on Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of The County of Peterborough.
Handwritten Moon is a collaboration between the sculptor Garrett “Owen” Gilbart who fabricated the artwork, and poet Justin Million who wrote the text.
The piece was commissioned as an artist-initiated project through the City of Peterborough’s Public Art Program.
In daylight the reflective text piece takes on hues found in the nearby landscape. On a clear night it reflects the moon. Handwritten Moon also responds to flash photography or a flashlight, and the public is encouraged to bring flashlights or headlamps to experience the piece.
The event will be held rain or shine at Jackson Pond near the Pagoda bridge in Jackson Park.
New Public Artwork Installed At Jackson Park Sits Just Below The Surface Of Jackson Pond
/A new public artwork, Handwritten Moon, created by two local artists was installed in Jackson Park on Monday.
File Photo.
