North Shore Trail Access Improvements

Project Type

Parks & Forestry

Status

In Progress

Estimated Completion

July 2027

The North Shore Trail Access Improvements Project looks at new access points and connections to the North Shore Trail and the Kempenfelt shoreline. The project includes the design and construction of access points and connections near three sites: Kempenfelt Park, St. Vincent Park, and Nelson Square.

This project, which includes recommendations for the North Shore Trail that were included in the approved 2023 Waterfront Strategic Plan Update, is being done to:

increase access points and connections from the waterfront trail along Kempenfelt Drive to the North Shore Trail, and from the North Shore Trail to water's edge at select locations
prioritize the naturalized state of the North Shore Trail
improve drainage to reduce risk of pooling and flooding that impacts some areas of the trail

A preferred final design was informed by public feedback and will guide construction work.

Project Updates

August 26, 2026

The City has awarded the project. Site preparation work is happening the week of August 24, with no impacts to trail access. Construction is expected to begin August 28.

Sections of the North Shore Trail will require closure where improvements to the trail are being made. Specific trail area closures include a portion of the trail located south of Kempenfelt Park, a portion of the trail located south of St. Vincent Park and a portion of the trail located south of Nelson Square. These closures are expected to be in place until July 2027. View the trail closure sign.

The temporary detour route for pedestrian trail users will be the municipal sidewalk along Dunlop Street East and the mixed-use pathway along Kempenfelt Drive.

The temporary detour route for cyclists will be Dunlop Street East and Kempenfelt Drive. Please note that the on-street cycling portion of the detour may not be suitable or comfortable for all riders. Cyclists who are not comfortable riding in mixed traffic should dismount and walk their bicycle using the pedestrian route.

Signage providing notice of closure will be posted throughout the trail at formal and informal access points, and where improvements to the trail are being made.

The City will continue to provide notice of any changes to trail access and will work to minimize any further disruption where possible.

June 10, 2026
The City has completed the prequalification stage for the upcoming invitation to tender. This prequalification process, held from February through March 2026, helped identify qualified contractors with the experience needed to deliver the work.
Prequalified proponents were invited to participate in the formal invitation to tender, issued in May 2026. The tender period remains open until mid-June 2026.
Award of the construction contract is anticipated as early as July 2026, with on‑site work expected to begin shortly afterward. Construction timelines will be confirmed once the tender is awarded.
As the project moves into the construction phase, you can expect some temporary impacts along portions of the trail network. These may include short‑term closures, detours and intermittent noise or activity near work areas. The City will provide advance notice of any changes to trail access and will work to minimize disruptions wherever possible.
September 12, 2025
There are anticipated disruptions and closures along and within the vicinity of the North Shore Trail between Wednesday September 17 and Friday September 19 for geotechnical studies as part of the North Shore Trail Access Improvements Project. Areas of impact include:
1. Kempenfelt Park (use of the playground should not be impacted)
2. North Shore Trail between Kempenfelt Park and Cook Street (trail closure)
3. North Shore Trail between Cook Street and Vancouver Street (trail closure)
Any closures will occur intermittently across different areas and not all at once. Signage will be posted when an area is closed.
The Waterfront Trail (along Kempenfelt Drive), that runs parallel to the North Shore Trail, will remain open and we recommend using it as a detour.
Construction work is scheduled to start this fall and be complete in 2026.

Design Considerations

The designs for the three new access points from the Waterfront Trail along Kempenfelt Drive to the Northshore Trail were presented to the Seniors and Accessibility Advisory Committee in March 2025. The project was well-received with minor suggestions, which were incorporated into the final designs.

When considering the excessively steep and sensitive slopes along the trail, the committee noted the priority is to provide new accessible connections to the trail from Kempenfelt Park and Nelson Square. It acknowledged that accessible access to the water from these areas of the trail is not feasible and is considered an environmental exclusion under the Ontario Design for Public Spaces regulation. There are small-scale rest and lookout spots incorporated into the path designs that will be accessible.

The City’s focus to provide enhanced accessible access to the water will be through the future Johnson’s Beach redevelopment, as per the 2023 Council-approved Waterfront Strategic Plan.