Boardwalk will offer ‘one-of-a-kind’ view at huge conservation area in Mississauga

A raised boardwalk in the midst of nature is expected to be a key feature of a huge new conservation area that’s on track to open next year along Mississauga’s waterfront.

Expected to be an environmental “gem” in the south end of Canada’s seventh-largest city, the 64-acre Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area is scheduled to open in May 2026, Credit Valley Conservation officials said earlier.

In a recent online project update, the local conservation authority said the raised boardwalk trail, which will be especially welcomed by birdwatchers, will offer “a one-of-a-kind vantage point, allowing visitors to look out over the surrounding vegetation and into the heart of the wetland habitat.”

CVC added the new boardwalk trail is located next to Serson Wetland East and among the experiences it will offer visitors is the opportunity to catch relatively up-close glimpses of a wide variety of birds.

“The new 170-metre boardwalk is 2.5 metres wide and is fully accessible. It features two lookout platforms along the path providing a perfect place to pause, enjoy unobstructed views of the wetland and soak in the sights and sounds of nature,” project officials said in their update. “Once the conservation area opens, visitors will have the chance to spot a variety of bird species, from graceful herons to colourful warblers.”

View of Serson Wetland from the boardwalk’s south lookout. (Photo: Credit Valley Conservation)

The conservation authority said construction is on track as it creates more than three kilometres of new trails and natural spaces as part of the conservation area.

The $59-million Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area is being developed through a partnership between Credit Valley Conservation, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Region of Peel.

When opened to the public next spring, it will offer visitors an accessible network of trails, boardwalks, lookouts and scenic gathering spaces, those involved in the project say.

The conservation area was initially expected to open this July, but the project was delayed by 10 months, CVC officials said earlier this year.

This image of a great blue heron was captured by a trail camera at Serson Wetland. (Photo: Credit Valley Conservation)

In its recent update, CVC also identified several reasons why the new conservation area will offer some of the best local birdwatching opportunities.

“The open water areas of the wetland are ideal for spotting waterfowl such as mallards, Canada geese and, if you’re lucky, the strikingly patterned wood duck,” officials said. “Along the marsh edges, great blue heron, green heron or black-crowned night heron can often be seen hunting for fish or perched on nearby logs.”

Additionally, they noted, the vegetation along the wetland edge provides excellent shelter and nesting spots for various birds.

And in the air above the wetlands and out over the lake, visitors can spot tree swallows, common and Caspian terns diving for fish and other varieties.

“These are just a few of the many bird species making the recently created wetland home. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a casual visitor with a curiosity for nature, this new trail will offer an accessible and immersive way to connect with local wildlife,” CVC said.

The cities of Mississauga and Toronto have also contributed to the massive undertaking in developing the new conservation area.

“The scale and impact of this project is unique within the Great Lakes region; it is the only project of its kind happening in this area,” CVC officials said in a project update last December. “It will be a major greenspace asset to the city of Mississauga and Peel, supporting healthy communities by connecting over nine kilometres of waterfront trail.”

Aerial view of the site. (Photo: Credit Valley Conservation)

Once completed, one of the main features of the area will be a 3.77-kilometre network of new trails. Included in that is the Waterfront Trail, a 5.5-metre-wide multi-use lane to span the conservation area from Marie Curtis Park in the east to the future Lakeview Village community in the west.

Another new feature officials are eagerly anticipating is a promontory that will be situated 14 metres above lake level at the highest point in the conservation area.

They say it will “boast a breathtaking 360-degree view of the surrounding greenspace, city skyline and Lake Ontario. This feature will be visible across (the conservation area) and will offer unique views along the shoreline.”

Built on a previously degraded section of shoreline and named for the late Mississauga councillor who worked to bring the project to fruition, the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area reuses construction rubble and fill as a sustainable resource to create a greenspace that will connect the community back to Lake Ontario, project leaders say.

Lakeview Village and the Jim Tovey conservation area are being developed on the site that was once home to the Lakeview Generating Station. It was shut down in 2005 complete with the controlled demolition of the iconic smokestacks known for decades as “The Four Sisters.”