The Government of Canada has acquired 19 hectares of the former Windsor Raceway property to be contributed to the proposed national urban park in the Windsor area, officials confirmed. The purchase was supported in part by a $11.2-million contribution from Parks Canada.
The addition increases the land being considered for the park to 443.6 hectares, made up of parcels administered by Parks Canada, the City of Windsor, the Province of Ontario and the Essex Region Conservation Authority. Federal and partner organisations say the designation process continues and that several planning steps remain.
The Government of Canada has acquired 19 hectares of the former Windsor Raceway lands to contribute to the proposed national urban park in the Windsor area.
Next steps and funding
Officials identified immediate next steps as drafting an interim operational plan, conducting public and First Nation community engagement, and formalizing a designation agreement among partners. In March 2025, the federal government confirmed $36.1 million in funding over five years for the proposed urban park, plus an ongoing annual allocation of $4.6 million.
Members of a Partner Committee representing local First Nations are participating in planning and development. Those members include Caldwell First Nation, Walpole Island First Nation, Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. The committee framework indicates First Nations will contribute knowledge, perspectives and leadership as the project advances.
Local impacts and governance
The addition of the former Raceway lands brings more publicly held acreage into the pool under review for national urban park designation. How the lands will be managed in the short term is expected to be addressed in the interim operational plan, which partners say will guide use until a designation agreement is finalized.
- New land added: 19 hectares (former Windsor Raceway)
- Total area under consideration: 443.6 hectares
- One-time Parks Canada contribution toward acquisition: $11.2 million
City and regional officials have previously signalled support for a national urban park in the Windsor area as a means of protecting green space, supporting habitat and providing recreational opportunities. The acquisition strengthens the federal role in assembling contiguous public lands but does not, by itself, finalize park designation or set a detailed long-term governance model.
What residents can expect
Residents and interest groups should expect engagement opportunities as part of the next phases. Partners have said public consultations and First Nation community engagement will be scheduled to inform interim operations and the final designation agreement. Until a designation agreement is completed, partners will use interim arrangements to manage the newly acquired lands.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Added acreage (Raceway) | 19 ha |
| Total area under consideration | 443.6 ha |
| Parks Canada contribution (acquisition) | $11.2M |
| Federal funding committed (March 2025) | $36.1M over five years and $4.6M/year ongoing |
As the process proceeds, municipal staff, conservation authorities and First Nations on the Partner Committee will be key contacts for details on timelines and specific proposals for land use, habitat protection and public access within the lands now being considered for the Windsor-area national urban park.
