The Lower Don Trail is a 4.7 kilometre section of multi-use trail for pedestrians and cyclists that runs along the Don River, from Pottery Road to Corktown Commons. Home to a wide array of plant and animal species, revitalization of sensitive natural habitat is ongoing.
Part of Toronto’s ravine trail network, the Lower Don Trail is a key part of the Pan Am Path, an 82 kilometre trail linking communities across Toronto and an important legacy of the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Games.
Lower Don Trail Improvements include a number of works to improve the conditions of the existing trail and access into the surrounding trail network. These improvements are based on the Lower Don Trail Master Plan (2013).
The Lower Don Trail Master Plan Refresh provides an update on the Lower Don Trail Master Plan (2013). The Plan is funded by the City of Toronto, and being carried out in partnership with Evergreen and project consultants DTAH.
The purpose of the refresh is to build on its predecessor by;
The project started in summer 2018 and is currently on hold. A draft of the Lower Don Master Plan Refresh will be available to stakeholders and the public by the end of 2021.
In 2012-2013 the City of Toronto commissioned a Master Plan for the Lower Don Trail that would guide the development of this increasingly well-used parkland resource. The goals of the plan were:
The Lower Don Trail Master Plan informed recreation planning initiatives in the Lower Don Valley and clarified the City’s priorities for improvements in the area. The process to refresh the Lower Don Master Plan is currently on hold. More information can be found under the 2019 Master Plan Refresh section on this page.
The first phase of construction was completed in September 2017 and included:
A new bridge for pedestrians and cyclist to connect the new Pottery Road Trailhead and the new Bayview Avenue Multi-Use Trail at ground level (at-grade) and separated from motorized traffic.
On the east side of Bayview Avenue, a new bi-directional trail separated from traffic was installed. The trail is between 3.5-4 metres wide and connects with the existing multi-use trail on Bayview Avenue.Two sections of the trail were installed – from Pottery Road to south of the Brick Works, and from south of Bloor Street to Rosedale Valley Road.
A review of existing trail conditions from Pottery Road to Belleville Underpass was carried out. Minor improvements were needed to address safety, circulation, visibility/sight-lines.
The Belleville underpass was:
The new signs in the Lower Don Trail represent the first deployment of the new Parks and Trails Wayfinding Strategy. Comments related to the new signs have been forwarded to project managers, who are evaluating this pilot phase over the winter. You can send additional comments to parkwayfinding@toronto.ca.
A new ramp is planned that will provide easier access to the Lower Don Trail from the Riverdale pedestrian bridge. The ramp will extend off the north side of the bridge, with a switch-back down to the trail. It will complement the existing staircase on the south side of the bridge.
This project is related to the Lower Don Trail Master Plan (2013).
The materials to be used will be similar to those used in recently constructed projects in the valley. These are called the Lower Don Valley Palette:
Planned phase 2 work includes:
The bridge over the Don River at Dundas Street connects the east and west sides of the Don Valley. New stairs from the sidewalk on the bridge to the valley below will be installed. The new staircase will include a bike trough for cyclists to use, to help guide their bikes as they walk up or down the staircase.
The existing trail located between Belleville and Bala underpasses will be widened (where necessary), resurfaced, along with drainage/flood resilience improvements and minor realignments.
More information about this phase can be found in the Site Bulletin Information for the Lower Don Trail Phase 2 Improvements.
The start of the Lower Don Trail Improvements Phase 2 is currently delayed while final permits required by the contractor are obtained. More specific updates on project construction timelines are expected soon once these permits are in place. Advance signage with mapping will be located on this website and on the ground at trail decision nodes coming into the detour area.
The detour will be to go around the Lower Don Trail as it will be closed from Pottery Road to Corktown Common, including the Riverdale pedestrian bridge and Queen Street bridge stairs.
Download the information bulletins and mapping on the detour and the project.
Trail construction is anticipated to be complete with the trail open for summer 2022.
What we heard from stakeholders, including the City Disability Steering Committee:
The ramp needs to service as many users as possible, including:
A Stakeholder Information Meeting was held at Riverdale Library and several stakeholders came out to attend and provide input. The design to date was well received and comments received are helping the project team move further into detailed design. Comments to the project team can best be integrated into the design prior to August 20, 2018.
A new ramp is planned that will provide easier access to the Lower Don Trail from the Riverdale pedestrian bridge. The ramp will extend off the north side of the bridge, with a switch-back down to the trail. It will complement the existing staircase on the south side of the bridge.
The position of the ramp is between the rail (Bala Metrolinx line) and the Don River. Based on the constrained site width (between rail and river) there is only one turn to the switch back. The switchback is in the northward direction and has a vista lookout at the turn around point. The existing stairs will remain (south of the bridge).
The sloped path gradient is consistent with the accessibility guidelines for paths of a max 5%. There is a resting area, with an accessible bench at the turnaround.
The ramp will meet existing grade and integrate with the adjacent 4.0 metre wide trail in the existing location.
The width of the ramp is proposed to be a minimum of 3 metre and significantly wider at the turn around (6 plus metres). The maximum height of the ramp where it connects to the bridge is approximately 9 metres, and the distance between the access from the bridge and the outward edge of the turnaround is 113 metres.
The materials to be used will be similar to those used in recently constructed projects in the valley. These are called the Lower Don Valley Palette:
A special meeting was held with the Community Disability Steering Committee.
This was a Riverdale Bridge site visit.
This public consultation meeting took place at St Simon the Apostle Church at 525 Bloor Street East.
If you require assistance in understanding these materials, please contact Jason Diceman at 416-338-2830.
Thanks to the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Project, the Lower Don Trail project had enhancements to the infrastructure work. Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Project funding combined with existing City funds allowed for improvements of a new cycling/pedestrian bridge at Pottery Road and reconstruction of the rail underpass north of the Riverdale Pedestrian bridge. These improvements improve active recreation through this area.
Phase 1 enhancements to the Lower Don Trail were also generously funded in part by donations from Evergreen.
Phase 2 enhancements to the Lower Don Trail (Riverdale Sloped Path) are generously funded in part by a grant from Trans Canada Trail.