Cootes to Escarpment Park System official launch

HAMILTON, ON, Feb. 4 /CNW/ - After two years of behind-the-scenes work laying the foundation for the Cootes to Escarpment Park System, the nine agencies involved in this visionary conservation initiative are ready to throw a party celebrating the achievements to date, launching the 10-year Implementation Strategy, and the 5th anniversary of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

This is a great opportunity for reporters to meet the individuals behind Cootes to Escarpment, and to pick their brains on the implementation strategy.

The vision of the Cootes to Escarpent Park is to link together 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of natural areas owned by eight different agencies and organizations. The park would stretch from Hamilton Harbour, through Cootes Paradise to a 10 km section of the Niagara Escarpment. Truly a big idea.

The event takes place Saturday, February 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Nature Interpretive Centre in the Arboretum at Royal Botanical Gardens.

What better way to celebrate a powerful conservation vision than to hold a mammoth outdoor party? The family friendly event, funded by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is open to the general public.

Foundation, includes:

    
    - Catering provided by Dyment's Farm
    - Partner exhibits
    - Children's activities
    - Mountsberg Live Bird of Prey Exhibit
    - TVO's Enviro Girl
    - Bonfire Ceremony
    - Guided hikes by Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club
    - Hiking, skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at leisure
    

The nine organizations behind the Cootes to Escarpment Park System are:

    
    The Bruce Trail Conservancy
    City of Burlington
    Halton Region
    City of Hamilton
    Conservation Halton
    Hamilton Conservation Authority
    Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan
    Hamilton Naturalists' Club
    Royal Botanical Gardens
    

Funding:

Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation generously provided $185,000 to support the development of this strategy. In addition the 9 partner agencies provided substantial contributions.

To view the Cootes to Escarpment Park System: A Conservation Vision, please visit: http://files.newswire.ca/851/Summary.pdf

For further information: Lee Oliver, Communications Manager, Royal Botanical Gardens, (w) 905-527-1158, ext 223, (c) 905-929-0607, [email protected]