Key land secured for Windsor national urban park

Proposed national urban park area in Windsor. (Source: Councillor Fred Francis/Facebook)

A national urban park in Windsor moves closer to reality with acquisition of the raceway land.

The federal government announced Monday the acquisition of 19 hectares of the former Windsor Raceway lands to contribute to the proposed national urban park in the Windsor area.

The designation process for the proposed park continues to progress. Next steps include developing an interim operational plan, public and First Nation community engagement, and establishing the designation agreement between partners.

Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature was joined at the announcement by federal and local officials and partners.

“Today’s announcement represents a significant leap forward in our collaborative effort with partners to designate a national urban park in the Windsor area. The acquisition of 19 hectares of the former Windsor Raceway, together with the lands being considered for inclusion by municipal, provincial, and federal partners, brings this vision closer to reality as we enter the final stages of designation,” said Dabrusin.

During the announcement, Kristyn Ferguson, Managing Director of the Ontario Conservation Accelerator, shared the acquisition of 19 hectares of the former Windsor Raceway lands made possible in part by an $11.2M contribution from Parks Canada.

“For decades, residents, naturalists, and community groups have worked to safeguard the Ojibway Prairie Complex. Securing this key parcel of the former Windsor Raceway marks a major milestone in the shared vision of bringing the broader Raceway lands into a National Urban Park,” said Mike Fisher, president of the The Friends of Ojibway Prairie.

This acquisition is a significant step for conservation in strengthening ecological connections to the Ojibway Prairie Complex and helping to protect unique and biodiverse landscapes.

With the addition of the former Windsor Raceway lands, the total area being considered for the proposed urban park is now 443.6 hectares, which includes lands administered by Parks Canada, the City of Windsor, the Province of Ontario, and the Essex Region Conservation Authority.

Caldwell First Nation, Walpole Island First Nation, Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation play active roles as members of the Partner Committee, contributing their knowledge, perspectives, and leadership to the planning and development of the proposed national urban park.

“Today’s announcement is about more than protecting land, it is about restoring relationships. For Caldwell First Nation, these lands are part of a living landscape that connects our people to our history, culture, and responsibilities to future generations,” said Chief Nikki van Oirschot, Caldwell First Nation.