700 metres of new trails open on former Bowmanville Zoo lands as first phase of park plan

About 700 metres of new public trails opened Aug. 20 on the former Bowmanville Zoo lands in Bowmanville, marking the first completed phase of the Bowmanville Park Master Plan.

The trails are part of the Bowmanville Park Master Plan to turn the 13.7-hectare property into a municipal park. The routes are intended for walking and cycling and are designed to be accessible for mobility devices, with access points at the north and south ends of the site.

The paths run along the west side of the Soper Creek system. The trail network includes a four-metre-wide accessible asphalt trail, along with several secondary crushed limestone trails.

Hundreds of trees and shrubs have been planted, and benches and decorative armour stone have been installed along the trails.

Hydro One provided $80,000 in community benefit funding tied to its Durham Kawartha Power Line project.

The plan calls for the trails to eventually connect to a broader “Circle of Green” network linking the Soper Creek system with other green spaces in Bowmanville.

The former Bowmanville Zoo lands were transferred to the Municipality of Clarington in 2021. Valleys 2000 prepared an initial park concept through a community design workshop, and Clarington council approved the final Bowmanville Park Master Plan in 2024.

The master plan lists possible future additions including a welcome centre, natural play areas, an outdoor amphitheatre, additional trail connections, demonstration gardens, gathering spaces, and art and cultural installations. The plan also anticipates designated parking as the park develops.

The trails can be accessed through Mearns Park to the north or from a south entrance near King Street East and Mearns Avenue.

Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster, Hydro One vice-president Bonnie Hiltz, and Valleys 2000 president Kim Maxwell each issued statements in the municipality’s release marking the opening of the first phase of trails.