Clarington is developing a bold new vision for its 34 kilometres of waterfront along Lake Ontario. Our goal? To create a vibrant, accessible, and sustainable waterfront that serves residents, welcomes visitors, and protects the environment—now and for generations to come.

What the Renewed Strategy Will Do

In 1992, Clarington launched a 30-year Waterfront Strategy to improve public access and increase land ownership along the lakefront – and so much has been achieved since then! Building on that progress, we’re now shaping a renewed vision for the next 30 years – one that will:

• Enhance public access to green spaces and the lakefront
• Preserve the natural environment to strengthen shoreline resilience and biodiversity
• Support thoughtful growth with high-quality parks and amenities
• Promote year-round recreation and tourism opportunities
• Celebrate the unique character of the waterfront communities located along our 34-km shoreline

A clear vision is essential, as it sets the long-term direction and unites around a shared purpose. It inspires action, guides priorities and ensures that all decisions contribute to a cohesive, future-focused outcome.

The Overall Draft Vision: Clarington's waterfront is a publicly accessible space that connects our community; protects natural systems, climate resilience and biodiversity; and honours our history and cultural heritage. Our shoreline flourishes with interconnected trails and diverse recreational opportunities while placing environmental stewardship at the forefront. We grow our waterfront sustainably, protecting the important coastal functions and landscapes, while also ensuring public safety and accessibility over time.

To support the implementation of this draft Waterfront Vision, five guiding principles have been developed to establish a framework and set priorities for future decision-making.

• Environmental Stewardship and Climate Resilience: Protect, restore, and enhance the natural environment, including the Lake Ontario shoreline, wetlands, and wildlife habitats, while actively planning for flood and erosion hazards and climate change adaptation and protecting biodiversity.
• Public Access, Connection, and Enjoyment: Ensure equitable, safe, and inclusive access to the waterfront for all residents and visitors, prioritizing public ownership and enjoyment of shoreline lands, recognizing the waterfront as a continuous and integrated corridor that supports ecological connectivity, including wildlife movement and sediment transport along the nearshore, and enhances public trail connections that link communities and natural spaces.
• Cultural Histories and Traditions: Celebrate the layered cultural histories and traditions on the waterfront lands through acts of reconciliation, a culture of inclusiveness and belonging, and through the historic interpretation of public spaces through design and local stories.
• Community-Scaled Economic Viability: Foster a sustainable waterfront economy that supports small-scale, local businesses, creates employment opportunities for the community, and encourages tourism that complements the natural environment and enhances public enjoyment.
• Design Excellence and Community-Centred Planning: Create high-quality and impactful public and private realms through thoughtful, sustainable design that reflects the local character and is guided by
  transparent and meaningful community engagement.

We invite you to click through the five distinct experiences on the map below to learn about the draft vision for five distinct experiences along Clarington’s connected waterfront, including: Courtice Waterfront, Bowmanville Waterfront, Newcastle Waterfront, Agricultural Heritage and Port Granby Nature Reserve.