What’s Happening with Scarborough’s Waterfront?

Right now, large parts of the official Waterfront Trail in Scarborough from East Point Park to Silver Birch Beach next to the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant require cyclists to go on-road. However, that may not be the case for too much longer. Last week, ground was officially broken for the Brimley Road South multi-use trail which is the first step in realizing the Scarborough Waterfront Project from Bluffer’s Park to East Point Park. Let’s look at what’s in store for Scarborough’s Waterfront.

Rendering of Scarborough Waterfront West Segment Trail (Via TRCA)

Brimley Road South

The one-kilometre multi-use trail will be built from Barkdene Hills – where the existing Waterfront Trail continues west behind St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto – to Bluffers Park Road. Per the below design renderings from the TRCA, the trail will be illuminated while southbound sharrows will be provided on Brimley Road itself. The trail is expected to be completed by mid-2027 which will also improve pedestrian safety given the lack of sidewalks. Had the Brimley bike lanes from Kingston Road to Lawrence Avenue East been maintained instead of removed in 2020, that would have also helped improve accessibility to the Scarborough Bluffs.

West Segment

To better understand the rest of the Scarborough Waterfront Project, the TRCA split it into the West, Central, and East Segments.

The West Segment covers from Bluffers Park Road to 650 metres west of Gates Gully where an existing gravel trail begins. Per the below TRCA rendering, the existing Bluffer’s Park Beach will be expanded along with two headlands at Bluffer’s Park and Meadowcliffe. Separate multi-use trails and pedestrian paths will be provided north of the beach and Meadowcliffe headlands.

The project website’s August 2025 update states the detailed design has been completed for this segment and funding has been secured. Construction is expected to start after the Brimley Road South trail is completed; meaning in mid-2027.

Central Segment

The Central Segment covers from 650 metres west of Gates Gully to 750 metres east of the Guild Park trail access. As I noted during The Driveside’s South Scarborough Loop ride, a 4.5-kilometre gravel trail already exists along this stretch per the below photo which should make trail design work a lot easier.

Based on the preferred alignment map, a new headland is expected to be added next to the Guild Park trail access, while other headlands and seawalls are expected to be built. The detailed design page states design work on this stretch is expected to start after the West Segment starts construction, while the East Segment would start design work after the Central Segment construction begins.

Despite the Doris McCarthy Trail not being safe to descend with a road bike in its current form, Chapter 6 of the TRCA's environmental assessment stated the trail grade will not be reduced due to the overall cost and impact on the natural system. However, we would need to wait for the detailed design process to see whether some minor improvements such as trail resurfacing can be done within the existing trail footprint.

East Segment

A two-kilometre gap remains from the end of the existing gravel trail to where the existing East Point Park trail begins. A new “access point” is called for at Grey Abbey Park along with additional headlands. A secondary trail is called for to bypass the Beechgrove-Copperfield intersection. At this time, I wouldn’t be surprised if this segment doesn’t get completed before 2035 given it is contingent on work for the other two segments.

Scarborough Bluffs West Project

To address Waterfront trail connectivity from Bluffer’s Park to Silver Birch Beach, City Council instructed the TRCA to start an environmental assess for a separate Scarborough Bluffs West Project back in 2021. The terms of reference were submitted to Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment in June 2025 while the timing of the Environmental Assessment remains uncertain. Should future public consultations come up for this project, I will note them on this blog or on Bluesky.

Having said that, Google Maps already shows a one-kilometre trail next to the lake which can be accessed from a trail off of Glen Everest Road. Given the height of the Scarborough Bluffs in this area, a boardwalk would most likely be needed if that trail were to be connected with Bluffer’s Park. I look forward to finding out what the preferred trail alignment ends up being as the assessment moves forward.

Looking Forward

While the Ford government doubles down on their refusal to allow motor vehicle lanes to be replaced with bike lanes – or potentially any other uses – with the recent introduction of Bill 60, Toronto’s trail network continues to slowly move forward. With work progressing for the Scarborough Waterfront Project, The Meadoway, the East Don Trail, and the Finch Hydro Corridor, Scarborough residents stand to benefit from a fully connected trail system.