Lincoln, ON – (July 14, 2023) – The Town of Lincoln is the proud recipient of a $25,000 grant through the Greenbelt Foundation to improve stormwater management, mitigate urban flood risks, and increase climate resiliency through the creation and protection of urban tree canopy installations in Jordan Village, a Greenbelt Settlement Area.
This initiative is part of the Jordan Village Improvement project - a major undertaking by the Town to rebuild and improve infrastructure in Jordan Village. Jordan Village is a vital economic contributor to the Town; at the same time, it has experienced drainage issues and extreme weather which are being exacerbated by climate change.
“On behalf of Lincoln Council, we are grateful to the Greenbelt Foundation for investing in the environmental health and well-being of Lincoln,” said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. “Working with our partners to leverage project synergies, including green technologies, will lead to many positive outcomes for the entire community and our watershed.”
A key recommendation of the Town’s environmental assessment study for the Jordan Village Improvement project is to improve stormwater management and water quality control treatment prior to it out-flowing into the nearby Jordan Valley and Twenty Mile Creek. The Town is planting 183 native trees in Jordan Village, 25 of which plan to be planted using soil cells technology. Soil cells protect critical water resources by storing stormwater, capturing rainwater, and isolating contaminants. Soil cells are modular units designed to install under sidewalks and parking lots, enabling trees to accept, store and transmit water, nutrients and energy, while giving roots sufficient room to propagate.
“This is an excellent opportunity to be progressive and innovative in our infrastructure projects,” said Tony Brunet, Ward 2 Councillor and Chair of the Town’s Community Services and Infrastructure Committee. “This investment will help us mitigate the effects of climate change, all while revitalizing this important public space for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
The use of soil cells and improvements to the urban tree canopy are part of the Town’s goals of improving existing water quality, stormwater quantity, soil quality, and air quality issues, and in preparing the community for the impacts of climate change.
“We’re pleased to support the Town of Lincoln’s Soil Cells and Urban Tree Canopy project as part of our work to strengthen and realize the full potential of natural assets in municipalities across the Greenbelt,” said Ed McDonnell, CEO of the Greenbelt Foundation. “Reducing flooding in our communities is just one of the ways that our natural assets work to mitigate extreme weather events and the effects of climate change.”
Some greater impacts expected through the use of this technology include reducing the adverse impacts of stormwater to Jordan Valley, Twenty Valley, Twenty Mile Creek, Jordan Harbor and Lake Ontario. In addition to several residential neighbourhoods, Jordan Village is home to several commercial and public facilities that will benefit from reduced flooding and a healthy urban tree canopy.
“We are planning for Lincoln’s future by employing emerging technologies in two of our priority areas – climate change and public infrastructure renewal,” added the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer Michael Kirkopoulos. “We will continue to seek funding opportunities that support the Town’s corporate goals and create complete communities.”
Natural Asset Management
The Town of Lincoln’s Preliminary Municipal Natural asset Inventory was completed in 2021 with support from the Foundation and the Municipal Natural Asset Initiative (MNAI). This project helps to advance the Town’s natural asset management by implementing an improvement project that addresses stormwater, reduces runoff and prepares the community for the impacts of climate change. A natural asset inventory helps to build climate-resilient infrastructure within a municipality’s jurisdiction while protecting and enhancing nature and ecosystem services.
About the Greenbelt and the Greenbelt Foundation
The Greenbelt Foundation is the only organization solely dedicated to ensuring the Greenbelt remains permanent, protected, and prosperous. The Foundation operates as an independent, charitable organization, and receives core funding from the Government of Ontario as well as other public and private support to make strategic investments that enhance and improve the systems and productivity of the Greenbelt. Since 2005, the Foundation has funded and leveraged more than $100 million through investment in its interconnected natural, agricultural, and economic systems, to ensure a working, thriving Greenbelt for all.
Now a world-class model for land use policy, Ontario’s Greenbelt spans over two million acres of protected natural landscapes, farmlands, and urban river valleys. For more information, visit: www.greenbelt.ca.
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For Media Inquiries:
Liliana Busnello
Manager of Corporate Communications
Town of Lincoln
905-563-2799 ext. 230
