Durham East Cross Forest opens this week

May 19, 2020 – Durham East Cross Forest Conservation Area will re-open to the public on Wednesday, May 20 for passive trail use, while Pigeon River Headwaters will re-open on Monday, May 25.

“This is the second phase of re-opening our conservation areas to the public,” explained Director, Stewardship and Conservation Lands Kristie Virgoe. “We were able to successfully, and safely, re-open Windy Ridge Conservation Area last week and Ken Reid Conservation Area earlier this week which was certainly welcome news for so many of our visitors.”

During the last several weeks, staff have been working to complete trail checks and put into place the necessary measures to be able to re-open conservation areas to passive use, so that visitors and members of our communities can benefit from being in nature.

“We appreciate this is a difficult time for so many people,” said Ms. Virgoe. “We have heard from residents and visitors how much their value our conservation areas and greenspaces, and our staff have been working hard to ensure that we can re-open these areas for the public safely and in accordance with the provincial and municipal states of emergency and the best advice from the medical officer of health.”

During the initial phase of re-opening conservation areas, all facilities other than trails will remain closed. All washroom facilities, off-leash dog park (at Ken Reid Conservation Area), picnic shelters, benches, viewing platforms and playground structures are closed to the public.

“We want to provide our communities with much-needed access to our conservations areas, trails and greenspaces for passive use,” said Ms. Virgoe. “But we need to ensure we are doing so responsibly, and our visitors are being respectful of social distancing, making sure all dogs are kept on leashes, and that any garbage is taken with visitors when they leave.”

Updates on additional openings will be posted to our website at www.kawarthaconservation.com and shared on Twitter and Facebook.