Rockway Conservation Area Enhancement Project
IMPORTANT NOTE: Rockway Conservation Area Main Parking Area (2021 Regional Road 69) will be closed starting July 24, 2023 until the fall for ongoing work to the parking area.
We encourage you to access Rockway CA using the alternative 9th Avenue parking area, or visit other nearby Conservation Areas such as Louth, Ball's Falls, or Cave Springs.
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Welcome to the NPCA's Get Involved portal!
The NPCA will soon complete an enhancement project at Rockway Conservation Area in St. Catharines. This project will improve the visitor experience through increased parking and new recreational features such as accessible trail systems, wayfinding, bicycle racks, and educational signage.
Rockway Conservation Area (Rockway) is considered one of the Niagara Peninsula watershed’s hidden gems, as it is part of the Niagara Escarpment, with significant ecological features, flora, fauna, and recreational assets.
This year, the NPCA acquired a 1.2-acre property adjacent to Rockway, on the north side of Regional Road 69. This parcel of land includes a valley, watercourse, and waterfall running along the west perimeter. A community centre and gravel parking area can also be found on site, offering access to the adjacent trails of the conservation area.
This acquisition will allowed the NPCA to improve Rockway’s access to greenspace and offer opportunities for people to connect with nature.
The Rockway Conservation Area Enhancement Project includes:
- New permeable parking area with various Low Impact Development elements
- Increased tree canopy, greenspace and granular accessible trail
- New trail system and wayfinding to complement the Bruce Trail
- New lookout, picnicking, and seating areas in place of the existing building structure
- Interpretive and educational signage
- Bicycling racks and new automated gate system
ABOUT THIS PAGE:
This portal will house important documents that all are welcome to review, a project timeline which outlines the steps of this process, and tools for providing feedback.
Through this Get Involved NPCA portal, our goal is to ensure the watershed community remains informed and given opportunities to provide their feedback and get involved.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
1. Learn about Rockway Conservation Area and the enhancement project by reviewing the documents available under Important Links and Documents.
2. Leave a comment or submit your feedback using the Guestbook. This feedback will be considered by staff throughout the project.
3. Ask us a question through the 'Q&A' tool available below.4. Attend the public information session in November 23. Find details under 'Key Dates'.
Post a comment!
I really hope that this will NOT be paid parking! There is very little left that families can do for free, as a society we should be encouraging people to get out and hike for their health and enjoyment!
Paid Parking...I can no longer go to balls falls as often as I would Like now Rockway too
Not a good Idea for families or average income people
Keep it free! Do not take away a other space by charging a fee and making it inaccessible for so many. This has been a special spot for years, do not ruin it by charging for parking.
It sounds as if there will be paid parking. That's disappointing.
Looking forward to this development.
