Bayfield River Flats entrance, parking lot closed
Date of Notice: September 4, 2025
Notice – Bayfield River Flats entrance and parking lot closed to all public access, during construction, until further notice
Two exciting enhancement projects are taking place at Bayfield River Flats Natural Area and, during the construction phase in September-October 2025, the entrance and parking lot will be closed to all public access until further notice.
The area of construction will also not be accessible to the public.
One of the enhancement projects is using innovative natural means to reduce riverbank erosion and the other concurrent project is to install a new canoe and kayak launch.
Both projects will benefit the nature area in the long term and the brief closure, estimated to be around three weeks, is required to make these enhancements possible.
The project construction was awarded following a tender.
The contractor is expected to begin work on or around Monday, September 8, 2025 and the closure remains in effect until further notice. (At this time, it is expected the work will take about three weeks or so to complete).
There may be some public access, under the pedestrian walkway under the bridge, to some non-construction areas.
The Bayfield River Valley Trail Association and the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy would like to acknowledge all the partners making these trail enhancements possible.
The project to use innovative natural techniques to reduce riverbank erosion is possible thanks to provincial and county partners including the lead funder for that project, the Province of Ontario through the Ontario Community Environment Fund (OCEF).
A generous and significant donation, by a community donor, made the canoe and kayak launch possible. Additional community donations are helping the fundraising committee to reach the fundraising goal of a total of $20,000 to complete the canoe and kayak launch project. Any funds raised in excess of $20,000 will go towards maintenance of the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area.