Waterfront Development and Environmental Sustainability

Mississauga’s waterfront and Credit River Valley are the city’s hidden gems. Most residents aren’t fully aware of the vastness, beauty and opportunity that our waterfront and river valley offers. Mississauga has a 22 kilometer Lake Ontario shoreline, the Credit River Valley and other waterways.

Waterfront development and City park development can establish an image for a City and a critical community amenity . Think of Chicago’s Gold Coast, Baltimore’s Inner Habour, Central Park and Stanley Park contrasted with the frustration over development of Toronto’s waterfront or Downsview Park. Mississauga has both Greenfield and brownfield development opportunities along the shores of Lake Ontario and in the Credit Valley with offer the potential for social, artistic, cultural, civic and recreational usages that are accessible to all.

The Imperial Oil Refinery lands in Port Credit, the Port Credit Harbour Marina and the OPG site in Lakeview are three key sites located on the Lake Ontario shoreline that are being considered for re‐development. The Lakeview Ratepayers Association, a group of local residents, led by Jim Tovey, with Dr. John Danahy, a professor with the Centre for Landscape Research, University of Toronto, have created a vision called the Lakeview Legacy Project. Their plan is aligned with the City’s direction. It stated guiding principles are, “the Lakeview experience is the community’s capital. It underwrites the community lifestyle that attracts smart people and money to form what will become the next generation sustainable economy.” Mississauga’s Lakeview Legacy Project, p. 1.

In addition, the development of the Credit River Valley is underway connecting a network of parks, nature trails, ecological, heritage, arts and culture centers into one large urban park called Riverwood Conservacy. Riverwood is co‐owned by the City of Mississauga and the Credit Valley Conservacy. It is a 60 hectare (150 acre) area that brings together the City’s heritage, beauty, peace and natural environment.

Mississauga’s waterfront and river valley has the potential to become a internationally renowned model of planning and environmental integration utilizing best practices and new technology. We have the opportunity to develop an economic, environmental, cultural, residential, research, educational, tourism asset that will protect our heritage and environment as well as augment Mississauga’s brand, attractiveness, success and sustainability.

Report - April 29/2010

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Post Secondary education

Waterfront development and environment

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The Mississauga Works Task Force