Lincoln, ON – (March 27, 2026) – The Town of Lincoln is pleased to receive $11,000 in funding from the Niagara Community Foundation through its Environmental Grant program. This funding will support enhancements to the engineered soil areas within the bike and walking track loops at Ashby Drive Park in Beamsville, within the Town of Lincoln.
New perennials, grasses, and trees will be planted to help naturally manage rainwater and snowmelt, improving drainage while supporting a healthier local ecosystem. This is part of the Town’s ongoing commitment to enhancing green spaces and protecting the natural environment.
Planning is still underway, but the community can look forward to a fall 2026 planting event, with opportunities for volunteers and local environmental groups to get involved. The Town of Lincoln and partners have held several successful community planting events in our ongoing effort to enhance Lincoln’s tree canopy and support local climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
The enhancements at Ashby Drive Park will come primarily in the form of a rain garden. Rain gardens are some of the most beneficial green infrastructure assets, as they provide all the biodiversity-related benefits associated with traditional native species plantings, but also provide additional stormwater management services. Rain gardens help to clean, retain, and then infiltrate stormwater into our groundwater system.
These green infrastructure assets decentralize stormwater management and alleviate pressure on existing traditional stormwater management infrastructure like culverts, catch-basins, and stormwater management ponds.
- For more information on rain gardens and how to develop one on your own property visit the Town’s Sustainable Yards & Gardens webpage.
- Learn more about enhancing and protecting Lincoln’s urban forest at lincoln.ca/RootedinLincoln.
Quotes:
“We’re grateful to the Niagara Community Foundation for supporting this important initiative at Ashby Drive Park. Projects like this help us bring our Strategic Plan to life—enhancing green spaces, expanding our urban tree canopy, and promoting low-impact development. It’s a meaningful step toward strengthening climate resilience while encouraging our community to take an active role in protecting and caring for our environment.”
~ Sandra Easton, Mayor, Town of Lincoln
“This project reflects our commitment to practical, sustainable solutions that benefit both residents and the environment. By enhancing these naturalized areas, we’re improving how we manage stormwater while supporting biodiversity and air quality. It also creates an opportunity to engage the community—building awareness and shared responsibility as we continue to advance our Climate Adaptation efforts and environmental stewardship goals.”
~ Michael Kirkopoulos, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Lincoln
“Niagara Community foundation is pleased to support this project through our Environmental Grant program. Ashby Drive Park is a great example of how communities are both enhancing and preserving our natural ecosystem. This park will be a great asset to the Town of Lincoln and it is our privilege to help make that possible."
~ Bryan Rose, Executive Director
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Liliana Busnello
Manager of Corporate Communications
Town of Lincoln
905-563-2799 ext. 230