PUBLIC CONSERVATION AREAS

Since 1974, ERCA has been acquiring lands to ensure the protection and conservation of their significant natural and cultural heritage features. Our Conservation Areas ensure that valuable greenspace is protected and that recreational opportunities are provided in safe, well maintained natural settings so that our watershed residents can enjoy a high quality of life and build greater awareness and appreciation for the landscapes around them.

These goals, as well as support for regional trails and trail networks, were originally identified in ERCA's first program and policy recommendations for the same reasons as today. By allowing for the enjoyment of our properties, we generate grass roots support for environmental protection and cultural appreciation. As a result, many of our properties serve two functions protection and recreation.

2019 Achievements

• • Responded to high water and clean up after severe storm events at Holiday Beach that additionally required closure of Tremblay Beach CA, and areas within HBCA, HMCA and ERCA's Greenways. This included the removal of over 500 hazardous trees.
• • Holiday Beach (30,000), John R. Park Homestead (18,000) and Hillman Marsh (8,000) visitors enjoyed the kinds of outdoor natural and cultural experiences known to contribute to community-wide health and well-being
• • $432,000 investment in Conservation Areas resulted in new boardwalks and road resurfacing at Holiday Beach Conservation Area as well as the Enbridge Natural Playground and the University of Windsor Alumni Association Outdoor Classroom
• • Undertook shoreline engineering study to identify options to protect the historic John R. Park Homestead buildings.

2020 Actions

• • Construct new pedestrian bridge over a municipal drain on the Cypher Systems Group Greenway to improve trail safety and not impact aquatic habitat.
• • Complete road, parking lot, and facilities improvements at Holiday Beach and develop and build a new single track cycling facility at Holiday Beach (with Amherstburg Community Foundation)
•   • Finalize design and construct new Heritage Centre and shoreline protection to protect the historic buildings at the John R. Park Homestead
• • Continue to replace entrance signs and directional signs leading to our Conservation Areas and explore opportunities for new or leveraged investment in capital facilities and infrastructure

2020 Pressures

• • New ERCF supported investment in Greenways along with increased visitation and use of conservation areas but available funds to support trail and conservation area operations has not kept pace
• • Funding to maintain infrastructure to the levels recommended in Tangible Capital Asset Management Plan and infrastructure replacement reserve funds and consider new capital investment and programming to meet changes in visitor use and expectations.
• • Unexpected costs related to increasingly unpredictable storm events and high water levels that are having significant financial implications related to clean up from storm and erosion damage (over $50,000 in 2019), and revenue losses due to flooded campgrounds and temporary closure of Conservation Areas
• • Managing risk at CAs in light of increasing liability and costs to maintain lands