About the Bartley Smith Greenway
The Bartley Smith Greenway (BSG) is a 15-kilometre natural valley corridor that follows the course of the upper West Don River through expanding residential and business developments in the heart of the City of Vaughan. When complete, the BSG will provide a continuous multi-use trail system from Steeles Ave. up to Teston Rd., linking together a series of city parks and recreational facilities through a natural corridor of scenic open spaces and wooded areas. In these pages you can learn more about the major features and sights along the Greenway.
The southern part of the main trail is largely complete from Steeles Ave. just east of Dufferin St. to Jacob Keffer Parkway. Marita Payne Park anchors the southern end of the system. North of Hwy 7, the trail crosses the restored Keffer Marsh (shown here before and after its transformation) and continues through Langstaff EcoPark. North of Langstaff Rd., the trail passes through Tudor Valley up to Jacob Keffer Parkway. A this point the route follows city streets before re-entering the river valley on Rutherford Rd. east of the Sports Village.
The middle section of the BSG trail between Rutherford Rd. and Major Mackenzie Drive, which passes Waterside Marsh, is still only partially complete. However, from McNaughton Road just north of Major Mackenzie Drive up to Teston Road, the Greenway is also complete. This section passes by Killian Lamar Pond, Cunningham Pond and through Mackenzie Glen District Park.
The corridor is named after Anne Bartley Smith of Aurora, who made a generous bequest to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) for restoration of the Don River. At one time the valley lands were used for agricultural purposes. Now they are being restored to provide a healthy, diverse mosaic of natural habitats for wildlife, in addition to passive recreational opportunities for local residents. The BSG is already one of the most successful regeneration efforts in the entire Don watershed.
In 2002 the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Vaughan, the Langstaff EcoPark Steering Committee and Toronto and Region Conservation, obtained a five-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. These funds will allow for the continued environmental regeneration of the BSG through an outreach and stewardship programme involving local businesses, schools, residents and community organizations.
Learn about other habitat regeneration projects of Toronto and Region Conservation.