Rouge National Urban Park, National urban park in Toronto, Canada
Rouge National Urban Park is a national park on the eastern edge of Toronto that stretches from the shores of Lake Ontario to the forested hills in the north. The park includes several river branches, farmland, dense deciduous forests, and open meadow areas that span three adjacent municipalities.
The land served as home to different communities over millennia before being protected from urban development in the 20th century. Official establishment as Canada's first urban national park came in 2015 after decades of conservation efforts.
The area takes its name from the reddish clay along the banks that early French traders noticed. Today, families from across the region use the meadows for picnicking and the shallow waters for wading on warm days.
Several entrances lead to different areas of the park, with some sections better suited for short walks while others allow for longer hikes. In winter, many paths remain open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, though some sections may close depending on conditions.
Within the boundaries lie active farms that grow vegetables and fruit for local markets. Visitors can see fields of pumpkins and corn growing right next to hiking trails in autumn.
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