Bartley Smith Greenway Trail
About the Bartley Smith Greenway
The Bartley Smith Greenway (BSG) is a 15 kilometre trail system that follows the West Don River. The trail system begins at the intersection of Steeles and Dufferin and reaches the north at Teston and Cranston Park. Future plans include extending the trail further north to Kirby Road.
The regeneration of the Bartley Smith Greenway was first initiated by a donation from the estate of Anne Bartley Smith and her husband, Matthew Smith. They were avid environmentalists who contributed to various reforestation and environmental projects in York Region and Toronto. A donation from the estate of Anne Bartley Smith sparked the West Don River Rehabilitation Project. In 1996, the rehabilitation project was later named Bartley Smith Greenway and adopted by TRCA who worked with partners including the Province of Ontario and City of Vaughan. Support from the Great Lakes Clean Up Fund, members of the EcoPark Steering Committee, the Conservation Foundation of Greater Toronto and other stakeholders were crucial to the development of the greenway.
To advance the implementation of the project, TRCA worked with partners to provide a continuous linkage of the trail system, establish trail management agreements and funding sources. As the implementation plan progressed throughout the years, various initiatives were completed such as retrofit projects, naturalization efforts, trail construction and community outreach programs. To date, the City of Vaughan and TRCA continue to create a continuous trail system and work on environmental rehabilitation within the corridor. For more information on the Bartley Smith Greenway, download the Bartley Smith Greenway information sheet (PDF)
Feasibility Study
The City of Vaughan is working towards creating a seamless and connected network of city-wide trails – including the Bartley Smith Greenway Trail, a key component of the Vaughan Super Trail. To help achieve this, the City is completing a feasibility study to determine how to close a three-kilometre gap in the Bartley Smith Greenway Trail between McNaughton Road and Rutherford Road.
The study identifies and evaluates options to connect the trail and establish a preferred trail route to advance to detailed design and construction. Once complete, the Bartley Smith Greenway Trail will run continuously from Teston Road in the north to Steeles Avenue in the south, supporting natural and cultural heritage, recreation opportunities, cycling, tourism and overall well-being of residents.
Watch a video about connecting the gaps on the Bartley Smith Greenway Trail.
To date, community input has been extremely valuable. Ideas and feedback have been shared through multiple opportunities and methods for public engagement including:
Online community engagement survey (Oct. 4 to 19, 2021).
Online public focus group discussion (two sessions on Nov. 30, 2021).
Online public information centres (Feb. 24, 2022).
In-person public information centres (July 7, 2022).
Field staking of proposed trail alignment focus group discussion (Oct. 12, 2022).
The City has finalized a draft report with the proposed trail alignment based on the feedback shared and informed by technical studies.
Final draft report:
Bartley Smith Greenway Feasibility Main Report (PDF)
Bartley Smith Greenway Feasibility Report - Appendix A to G (PDF)
Individual Appendices:
Bartley Smith Greenway Feasibility Report - Appendix A Engagement Plan (PDF)
Bartley Smith Greenway Feasibility Report - Appendix B Policy and Land Use (PDF)
Bartley Smith Greenway Feasibility Report - Appendix C Natural Heritage (PDF)
Bartley Smith Greenway Feasibility Report - Appendix D Floodplain Analysis (PDF)
Bartley Smith Greenway Feasibility Report - Appendix E Archaeological Assessment (PDF)
Bartley Smith Greenway Feasibility Report - Appendix F Schematic Trail Options (PDF)
Bartley Smith Greenway Feasibility Report - Appendix G Trail Design Drawings (PDF)
