EcoPark & Dog Park
The Late Summer Nite Garden Harvest fundraiser is back for a second year! See the Community Garden section below for details.
The EcoPark is a public green space where residents and visitors can enjoy the beautiful natural environment that our community has to offer. The park has over 3km of accessible trails, one of which loops around a small pond. The Dog Park, nicknamed the Clearview EcoBark, is fully equipped with tunnels, a drinking water fountain, a dog washing station, leash holders, benches and picnic tables. The Community Garden welcomes visitors to walk through their rural garden filled with native perennials and vegetables grown by the Friends of the EcoPark.
Address: 300 Mowat Street North, Stayner
The EcoPark is a public green area where residents and visitors can enjoy the beautiful natural environment that our community has to offer. The EcoPark features accessible walking trails, interpretive signs and a bird blind to view some of the over 200 different species of birds that migrate through and live in Clearview Township.
The EcoPark includes the newly constructed EcoBark, the largest off-leash dog park facility in Clearview Township; along with the Community Garden and Memorial Tree Park to help increase diversity and enhance habitat of birds and wildlife.
The Clearview EcoPark Loop provides residents with a safe, active trail system that connects residents from downtown Stayner with Clearview’s newest naturalized area. The Clearview EcoPark Loop utilizes a mix of sidewalks and built trail network and with numerous access points into the various subdivisions both along the trail and west of the park. The EcoPark is the perfect destination for those looking to get out for a walk, bike ride or to go birdwatching.
The Friends of the Clearview EcoPark are dedicated to the growth and sustainability of the Clearview EcoPark as a native tree, plant, bird and bee sanctuary by providing valuable services to maintain the Community Garden, trails and naturalized areas and promoting year-round opportunities for community activities and education that will benefit residents and visitors.
In 2021, Township Council approved the Terms of Reference and since then, the staff at the Parks, Culture and Recreation Department have been working with the volunteers to establish and grow the Community Garden.
To contact the volunteer leader for the Friends of the Clearview EcoPark, please email friendsofecopark@gmail.com.
- Throughout the winter semester of 2014-2015 Staff and Students at Stayner Collegiate Institute worked hard to build kiosks that would be used for interpretive signage at the park as well as some habitat structures for birds and ducks.
- In the spring of 2015 staff and students were on site and planted over 1000 native plant and tree specimens to enrich the site for birds and wildlife. A Forest Ecology Study was then conducted on site highlighting exactly how the park space has great potential for the school, the community, and the public to enjoy lifelong learning.
- By October 2015 it is intended that an interpretive trail system will be underway and upon completion, it will be accessible for all ages and abilities. For this project, we will be adopting and following guidelines outlined in the Accessibility Design Guidelines for York Regional Forest Trails.
- In November 2016, the concept plan for the Clearview EcoPark was approved by Council. This will lay the groundwork for long-term development, including a community garden, dog park and expanded trail network.
- From late spring 2017 to early summer, a new trail was constructed to connect the Clearview EcoPark to the forested property which will become the Emerald Creek Subdivision. Funding received by Simcoe County "Trails Connecting Communities" allowed for this extension. The completed trail is now referred to as the EcoPark Trail Loop and is 5.5km. The trail connects downtown Stayner (at Highway 26 & Scott St.) with the Clearview EcoPark. New directional signage was installed on the trail and along the route, such as on sidewalks.
- In September 2017, Clearview Township received funding from TD Tree Days to plant 125 trees on the east side of the park, adjacent to the trail and to also provide a environmental buffer on the perimeter of the community garden.
- Once again in September 2018, Clearview and our community partner, the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) hosted a TD Tree Days event to plant 250 trees and shrub on the east side of the park between Lamont Creek and Mowat St. There were 45 volunteers from all ages who participated in the tree planting day. This funding was the largest TD Tree Days "Friends of the Environment" grant received by Clearview totalling over $7100.
- In 2019, the Clearview EcoPark Loop was completed included a new limestone trail and new directional signage. This project was funded in part by the Regional Tourism Ontario 7 partnership program and the County of Simcoe Trails Connecting Communities Program.
- In February 2020, the Clearview EcoPark was featured in the Winter Activities video campaign for South Georgian Bay Tourism as the perfect spot for families to snowshoe in the winter. Trail access is available; however, not maintained by the Township. Please use your own caution.
- The growing season of 2021 was the inaugural year of the Clearview Community Garden. Following the landscape design drawn by Fran Moore, the Friends of the EcoPark brought the community garden to life. The volunteers grew vegetables to share, donate to the Clearview-Stayner Food Bank and to sell at the Farmers Market. The year was concluded with the all-new Late Summer Nite Garden Harvest fundraiser for the garden.
Address: 5833 County Road 96 (formerly 27/28 Sideroad), Stayner
The Dog Park, nicknamed the Clearview EcoBark, is located near the North boundary of the Ecopark. The main parking lot for the dog park is accessed on County Road 96 at the end of Mowat Street.
The dog park is fully equipped with tunnels, ramps, a drinking water fountain, a dog washing station, leash holders, benches and picnic tables. In addition, to ensure security and overall safety of pets, there is a double gated entrance to prevent dogs running off when entering or exiting. The dog park is open year round from sunrise to sunset. Please respect the rules as posted at the entrance of the facility.
The Late Summer Nite Garden Harvest fundraiser is back for a second year!
Join us in the garden for a picnic dinner featuring fruits and vegetables grown by our volunteers at the Clearview Community Garden. The Garden Harvest will also have live music, a silent auction(cash & debit) and a cash bar hosted by the Stayner Kinsmen Club.
This is a 19+ event. Don't forget to wear your best garden attire!
Thursday, September 1, 2022
300 Mowat Street N., Stayner, ON L0M 1S0 - Clearview Community Garden (turn right as you enter the EcoPark)
Tickets are $25 each - Available online - No computer, no problem! Come to the Friends of the EcoPark booth at Music, Market & Park It if you need assistance.
For more information, or to reserve a table of 6 after ticket purchase, email Erica at edewey@clearview.ca.
The new Community Garden includes the communal garden plots to collectively grow produce and will also have two types of allotment garden plots available for individuals to rent.
There are five Accessible Garden Plots available and twelve Garden Plots. The Accessible Plots are 48” wide by 96” long and 32” off the ground to allow access for individuals with physical disabilities and wheelchair access.
The Garden Plots are 48” wide and 96” long and will be enclosed with cedar wood to create a garden plot depth of 22” from the ground.
The annual rental fee of the accessible planter or the garden plot is $25, plus HST.
Read the Garden Manual below for more information:
CLEARVIEW COMMUNITY GARDEN MANUAL
Use the link below to register for a plot:
PLOT REGISTRATION
Take 5 Challenge!
Some of the tasks that volunteers are invited to help with are:
Morning watering 8am-10am
Evening watering 6pm-8pm
Weeding & planting tasks
Harvest, cleaning & deliver produce to "Clearview-Stayner Food Bank" - Tuesdays between 10am-12:30PM
Farmers' market booth, Thursdays 4PM-9PM
Special Projects & Events throughout the year
To volunteer to help with the Community Garden, please complete the Community Garden Volunteer Form.