One of Mississauga’s hidden green spaces is getting a major transformation

A major environmental upgrade is coming to one of Mississauga’s Cooksville-area parks, with more than $680,000 in federal and municipal funding aimed at restoring natural habitat, reducing flood risks and creating a more climate-resilient green space for residents.

The Government of Canada and the City of Mississauga are partnering on a project to restore the floodplain forest habitat at Iggy Kaneff Park, located at 2180 Camilla Rd. in the Cooksville neighbourhood.

The project will focus on restoring about 1.1 hectares of fragmented forest and wetland habitat along the Cooksville Creek watershed. Plans include planting about 1,000 trees, 6,000 shrubs and 2,000 wetland and ground-cover plants, while creating approximately 1,400 square metres of shallow wetlands designed to capture and store water while providing habitat for birds and amphibians.

The federal government is contributing $453,406 through its Natural Infrastructure Fund, while the City of Mississauga is providing $230,930.

The investment is important for a city that has experienced significant growth and increasing pressure on its natural areas.

“Mississauga is a very densely urbanized metropolitan area, meaning our green spaces and park spaces are important for the beauty and resilience of the community,” said Charles Sousa, Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Lakeshore, on behalf of federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson.

“Places like the Iggy Kaneff Park offer natural oases that reduce flooding and offer outdoor recreation.”

The restoration work is expected to improve the health of the Cooksville Creek watershed while helping the area better manage stormwater from heavy rainfall and snowmelt.

“By strengthening the Cooksville Creek watershed and enhancing Iggy Kaneff Park, we’re improving climate resilience, reducing flood risk and creating healthier, more enjoyable green spaces for our community,” said Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish.

The project is part of a larger City of Mississauga effort to expand and redevelop parkland in Cooksville, an area facing population growth and a need for additional green space. The City has been acquiring properties in the Cooksville corridor, adding more than eight hectares of new parkland to Cooksville Park and Iggy Kaneff Park.

The expanded parks are planned to include new features and amenities, replace aging infrastructure, improve accessibility and increase flood resiliency while protecting and enhancing natural areas along the Cooksville Creek corridor.

The City’s broader “Improving Cooksville Parks” project is currently moving through the design process, with construction expected to begin in 2027. More than 530 residents provided feedback during the first phase of public engagement about what they would like to see included in the redesigned parks.

The park’s name also carries local significance.

Iggy Kaneff Park was renamed in honour of Ignat “Iggy” Kaneff, the longtime Mississauga developer and founder of the Kaneff Group. Kaneff was recognized as a major contributor to the city’s growth, having built homes and high-rise developments that helped shape Mississauga’s skyline. The park, formerly known as Camilla Park, was renamed in 2023 to recognize his contributions to the community.

Once complete, the restoration project will provide environmental benefits beyond the park boundaries, including improved wildlife habitat, better stormwater management and additional protection against the impacts of climate change.

For residents, the investment represents a shift toward viewing urban parks not only as places for recreation, but also as important pieces of infrastructure that help protect communities.