Malden Park

This 175-acre park features the highest hill in Essex County. The park offers an extensive network of mountain bike and off-road cycling trails that wind up and down the hills and through paved and wood-chipped trails.

The Malden Park Visitor Centre offers an ideal location for private rentals for meetings, birthday parties and other special events.

A swamp forest occurs on the property that is partially designated as a Provincially Significant Wetland. The pond complex provides habitat for amphibians and reptiles. The high hills in the park provide a great opportunity to witness bird migration in the spring and fall.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge project Community Benefits Plan includes the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy, a $20 million (Canadian [CDN]) investment into initiatives that are consistent with the Crossing Agreement and the key regional priorities identified through consultation including community partnerships, community safety and connections, economic benefits, and aesthetics and landscaping.

The Malden Park Observation Area will provide an attractive, safe location, using an existing high elevation in the region, for residents, students and tourists to observe the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Malden Park Observation Area Construction

Malden Park Observation Area construction is anticipated to begin September 5, 2023, and will take place between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Construction is anticipated to take up to seven weeks to complete.

Construction activities include the following:

• Excavation of the observation area
• Foundational work and granular fill (mixed gravel)
• Landscaping (mulching, tree and shrub planting)
• Installation of furnishings like benches, railings and binoculars

Notice to community on Malden Park Observation Area construction

Malden Park Observation Area Accessibility Consultation

In July 2022, the project team collected community feedback through a survey on the accessibility of the initial observation area designs. Feedback has been reviewed and incorporated into the observation area design, as appropriate, such as the inclusion of the following:

• Compliance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) ramp slopes
• Viewing binoculars
• Project information signage
• Additional seating
• Guardrails around observation area perimeter and handrails on both sides of the ramp.

• Natural Heritage Features
• Off-road cycling and other multi-use trails funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
• Reception Centre with Enclosed Patio
• Concert Centre
• Picnic Areas with Tables and Barbeques
• Dog Park
• Parking
• Accessible Play Unit
• Pond
• Toboggan Hill
• Walking Trails
• Washroom

Dog Park Rules:

• Open during daylight hours only.
• Up to 3 dogs per adult per visit.
• Dogs must be over 4 months old to enter park.
• Shots must be up to date (rabies, distemper, parvovirus).
• Collar and current tags required.
• Off-leash within fenced area; on-leash everywhere else.
• Keep leash in hand while in park.
• Stay inside fence with your dog(s) and monitor behaviour at all times.
• Dogs must be leashed and removed from park at first sign of aggression.
• Owners are responsible and liable for damage or injury caused by their dogs.
• Owners must clean up after their dogs.
• Female dogs in heat are prohibited.
• Honour other patrons' requests regarding their dogs.
• Keep park gates closed at all times.
• Park may be closed for maintenance without prior notice.
• Dogs must be under control of an adult 18 years or older.
• Children under the age of 18 must be under strict adult supervision at all times.
• Children under 6 years are discouraged from using the park but must be within arm's length of parent/guardian if they are brought in.