Prepared by Cathy Quinlan & Brad Hertner Upper Thames River Conservation Authority For the City of Woodstock
Burgess Park and Standard Tube Parks in the west end of Woodstock Pittock Reservoir Along the South Thames River downstream of Pittock CA Burgess Park owned by UTRCA Standard Tube Park owned by the City Both parks managed together by the City
Development pressure End of farm leases and need to naturalize fallow farm fields No Master Plan since trail development started in 2000 Natural parklands need management to preserve ecological integrity and control use Fallow field New subdivisions planned Spring 2013, City contracted UTRCA to undertake a master plan of both Burgess and Standard Tube Parks Existing Trails
Assembled background documents and files Series of maps produced to highlight key features and future options Launched May 2013 with a news release + media interviews On-line survey completed by 111 people 49% want new or redesigned trails 72% want more tree planting and naturalization Most people love this park and use it often Community Meeting held June 26th, 2013 Local Advisory Committee (LAC) formed and met four times over fall and winter
195 acres (79 ha) along South Thames River One of the largest natural areas in Woodstock Contains floodplain forests, hardwood swamps, marshes, and fields A Provincially Significant Wetland 9 km of trails, 4 access points Very popular with walkers, cyclists, birders
1976 - City purchased Burgess Farm for parkland, then sold to UTRCA in 1981 (MOU signed) 1996 - Standard Tube Canada Inc. donated 50 acres for tax receipt City wanted sports fields 1999 - Recreation Needs Analysis and Park Design Study completed Concluded site not ideal for sports fields Public priority was for trails and nature 2000 - Trail and access development started Lions Club and Rotary Club early partners
2004 UTRCA started Pits & Mounds Afforestation on the south field 2006-2008 Sally Creek Golf Course proposal, turned down by UTRCA Board of Directors 2007 farm leases ended, since fallow 2012 future East-West Road approval with an access purchased through Burgess Park Pits & Mounds Afforestation E-W Road Access, Fallow Fields
4 Access Points (Tecumseh, Bexley, Dundas, 11 th Line) 9 km managed trails in floodplain 1-2 km unmanaged trails in fields Trail developed along 11 th Line to link to Dundas access point
1. Fallow Farm Field Naturalization 2. New Trails and Access Points in Fields 3. Reducing the Number of Existing Trails 4. Riverbank Erosion near trails 5. Possible Foot Bridge(s) 6. Park Names, Trail Names, Signs 7. Trailhead and Permitted Use Signage 8. Access Point Amenities 9. Benches and Picnic Tables 10. Stockpile Areas 11. Old Foundations from Burgess Farm 12. Boundary Survey 13. Pine Plantation Thinning 14. Connection between Dundas + 11 th Line 15. Fencing and Gate near Tecumseh 16. Pre-contact Sites 17. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
Goal is to slowly transition three of the fields from meadow to shrubland then woodland Invasive species (Manitoba Maple) control Native tree + shrub planting with school groups 4 th field into tallgrass prairie and shrubland Total of 45 acres Estimated cost $97,000 over 3-5 years UTRCA and City Parks Dept. will develop implementation and funding plans Manitoba Maple seedlings Tree Planting
Will add 45 acres of natural vegetation cover to the 195 acre site (23% increase)
New trails through naturalized fields Three loops totaling 3 km Close unmanaged trails Provide public access to newly naturalized habitats Connect new subdivisions Recommend mowed paths Two new access points Unmanaged Mowed Trail
There are a few areas where the trail is very close to an outside bend of the river Recommend the City work with UTRCA to investigate the feasibility of installing bio-engineering structures to stabilize the banks Tracey and trail very close to river Cribwall construction
Simplify Park + Trail Names Install Trailhead Signs or Kiosks Replace & add more benches Survey boundary with Sally Cr GC
Current Park System Future Park System
17 recommendations 10 year time horizon Total cost estimated at $378,000 Hope to share some of the costs between multiple partners such as: Service clubs Charitable foundations Government grants Local business In-kind labour and materials New Trails Prairie Naturalization
Thanks to the Local Advisory Committee Parks and Recreation Staff: Brian Connors and Chris Kern Cathy Quinlan, Brad Hertner