City of Waterloo to take over Laurel Creek Nature Centre

A proposed parcel of land, highlighted in yellow, will soon be transferred from the Grand River Conservation Authority to the City of Waterloo. (Courtesy: Grand River Conservation Authority)

A large parcel of land will soon be in the hands of the City of Waterloo.

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will be transferring the 123-acre parcel of land that includes the Laurel Creek Nature Centre to the city due to changes in the Conservation Authorities Act.

For more than 50 years, the GRCA has run educational programs at its nature centres, including the Laurel Creek Nature Centre in Waterloo.

“Following amendments to the Conservation Authorities (CA) Act and due to operational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, GRCA staff undertook a comprehensive review of the Environmental Education Program,” a GRCA news release said, in part. “Amendments to the CA Act changed how the program is funded, specifically, the program is required to operate without any municipal money unless there is a formal funding agreement in place.”

The conservation authority said the review ultimately recommended relocating programming from the nature centres to fee-for-use conservation areas.

In November 2023, the GRCA Board told staff to reach out to municipalities, school boards and other agencies to discuss funding and other opportunities for three standalone properties and facilities, including the Laurel Creek Nature Centre site.

“Those discussions have since led to an agreement in principle between the City of Waterloo and the GRCA for the disposition of the Laurel Creek Nature Centre and approximately 123 acres of supporting lands to the City,” the GRCA said. “The City and the GRCA are also collaborating on an operational agreement that will support the continued delivery of the GRCA’s Environmental Education Program at the nature centre for a 5-year period, while the GRCA relocates the program to operate at new locations within its Grand River Conservation Areas.”

The city said it intends to maintain the property as publicly useable parkland and is considering the addition of an Indigenous gathering space.

The transfer and agreement in principle were approved by the GRCA Board on May 22. The City also granted approval on Monday. The transfer and operational agreement will be finalized in late summer or early fall.