Federal and local partners have secured 19 hectares of land formerly occupied by Windsor Raceway for inclusion in the proposed Ojibway National Urban Park, bringing the park footprint to 444 hectares, federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin announced in Windsor on Monday.
How the acquisition happened
The parcel, described as largely naturalized and adjacent to the Ojibway Prairie Complex, was purchased by the Ontario Conservation Accelerator (OCA), a non-profit created to accelerate conservation projects across the province by coordinating funding and partnerships.
- Parks Canada provided the majority of funding for the purchase.
- Local fundraising — including contributions from Friends of Ojibway Prairie — helped bridge the remaining costs.
- OCA donors also contributed to completing the transaction.
OCA managing director Kristyn Ferguson said the site was bought for $10 million and local support was pivotal. Early work on the parcel focused on cleanup and assessment before ecological restoration can proceed.
“They found 1,800 kilograms of garbage which they worked together to pull out of the site, which is really the first step towards that restoration where we can now start to think about what else does the site need to bring it back to that thriving ecological condition so all the species at risk can continue to use it for generations to come,”
Early signs and next steps
Initial inspections of the newly protected land revealed encouraging signs of recovery: native tallgrass prairie species were observed, indicating the parcel still contains elements of the ecosystem conservationists aim to restore.
Officials say removal of debris and invasive species management will precede active restoration work intended to support the region’s species at risk. The acquisition positions the parcel to be managed as part of the larger Ottawa- and federal-led planning process for the proposed urban park.
| Item | Hectares |
|---|---|
| Previously protected within proposal | 425 |
| Newly acquired (former raceway) | 19 |
| Total proposed park area | 444 |
Federal, provincial and local stakeholders will continue consultations and planning for the proposed park. Conservation groups say the addition expands protections for remnants of tallgrass prairie and other habitats that support regionally rare plants and animals.
The acquisition underscores a broader push in Windsor and Essex County to conserve remaining natural areas amid ongoing urban development pressures. Local fundraising and community involvement were highlighted by partners as central to securing the site.
The proposed Ojibway National Urban Park remains subject to federal planning and designation processes. For Windsor residents, advocates say the latest purchase represents a tangible step toward long-term protection of one of the area's most significant natural landscapes.
