MILTON, ON – Today, Conservation Halton celebrated the reopening of its newly reconstructed boardwalk at Crawford Lake Conservation Area with a ribbon-cutting event attended by government representatives, community partners, project funders, and Conservation Halton leadership. The project reflects Conservation Halton’s ongoing commitment to protecting important natural spaces while creating accessible, meaningful and educational experiences for the community.

The reopening marks an important milestone for Crawford Lake Conservation Area, one of Conservation Halton’s most unique natural and cultural heritage destinations and a part of UNESCO’s Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve. Replacing the boardwalk—an important park asset originally constructed in 1965—provided an opportunity to improve accessibility and enhance the overall visitor experience at Crawford Lake.

Funding for the new Crawford Lake Boardwalk project was generously provided by the Government of Canada ($912,000) and the Province of Ontario ($759,924) through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program: Community, Culture and Recreation Stream, Rehabilitation and Renovation Intake, with additional funding from Halton Region’s Developer Contribution Reserve.

New signage, created in partnership with our Indigenous Partners Council, will be installed along the boardwalk later this month to help deepen visitors’ understanding of Crawford Lake, including its ecological significance, scientific importance and connections to Indigenous history and knowledge.

Following the boardwalk’s reopening on September 4, 2026, community members, educators, partners and members of the public will be invited to Crawford Lake Conservation Area on September 24, 2026, to celebrate the new boardwalk signage created in collaboration with Conservation Halton’s Indigenous Partners Council and scientific partners.

QUOTES

“The Government of Canada is proud to support projects like the Crawford Lake boardwalk that encourage active transportation and healthy living. The reconstructed boardwalk will continue to link Canadians to the Crawford Lake Conservation Area and to the stunning natural beauty of Canada’s landscape, while offering increased accessibility.“

 — Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport) and Member of Parliament for Burlington North—Milton West

“Our government is proud to support local infrastructure projects that lay the foundation for strong, resilient communities and make a real difference in people’s lives. The reopening of the Crawford Lake boardwalk is part of Ontario’s $236 billion capital plan over the next decade to build and expand infrastructure that will help keep workers on the job and support economic growth.”

— Todd McCarthy, Ontario’s Acting Minister of Infrastructure

“This $759,924 investment from the Province of Ontario through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program will help ensure that this treasured Milton destination remains accessible and welcoming for families, students and visitors for years to come. Crawford Lake is a special part of our community, offering opportunities to connect with nature, learn about our history and enjoy the outdoors. I’m proud to support investments that strengthen our community and preserve the places that make Milton such a great place to live, work and visit.”

— Zee Hamid, Member of Provincial Parliament, Milton

“The re-opening of the Crawford Lake boardwalk is a testament to what can be achieved when partners, funders, supporters and all levels of government unite around a shared vision for conservation, accessibility, education and exceptional community experiences. This renewed boardwalk enhances access to one of our region’s most treasured natural and cultural destinations while helping to protect its ecological significance. We are deeply grateful to our partners and supporters.“

 — Chandra Sharma, President & CEO, Conservation Halton

QUICK FACTS

·The Crawford Lake Boardwalk ribbon-cutting event took place on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Crawford Lake Conservation Area, 3115 Conservation Road, Milton, Ontario.

·Crawford Lake welcomes 100,000 visitors annually and is a popular destination for local and international visitors.

·The Crawford Lake boardwalk circles an internationally recognized meromictic lake (a rare lake formation with layers of water that do not fully mix).

·Funding for the project was provided through the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, including a federal contribution of $912,000 and provincial contribution of $759,924.

·This project was also partly funded from Halton Region’s Developer Contribution Reserve.

·The new boardwalk improves access to the lake and enhances the visitor experience. The previous boardwalk was approaching the end of its reasonable life expectancy and did not meet current accessibility standards.

·New signage, created with Indigenous Partners Council, will be installed later this month to support learning about Crawford Lake’s ecological, scientific and cultural significance.

Conservation Halton (CH) is a community-based environmental agency dedicated to protecting people, property and natural resources from flooding, erosion and other environmental hazards. Conservation Halton’s jurisdiction spans over 1,000 square kilometres, encompassing 17 creeks, 112 kilometres of trails, 26 kilometres of Lake Ontario shoreline, approximately 4,489 hectares of CH-owned and managed lands, and serving more than 664,000 residents. Our eight Conservation Areas welcome almost a million visitors and 68,000 youth in education and recreation programs annually. From the Lake Ontario shoreline to the Niagara Escarpment, we safeguard forests, wetlands and waterways through science-based conservation, land management and climate resilience initiatives. Learn more at

www.conservationhalton.ca

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Media Contact

Lisa Fernandes

Office of MPP Zee Hamid

905-878-1729

zee.hamid@pc.ola.org