Port Hope Lions Recreation Centre Park has undergone a significant transformation to restore and revitalize the park. The project, part of the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI), undertaken by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories on behalf of the Government of Canada, focused on the remediation and removal of historic low-level radioactive and industrial waste, restoring the area and returning it to the community.
Lions Park has been an integral part of Port Hope, offering a green space for community gatherings. However, over 60 years ago, soil and gravel were placed as fill on the Thomas Street property and the park was contaminated with heavy metals and other unwanted materials.
Addressing complex contamination with environmental, civil and landscape services
In 2022, EXP, working with ECC, started the design, tree removal, remediation and restoration project. EXP was responsible as the Engineer of Record for the environmental, civil and landscaping design services on the project in support of ECC’s remedial construction work program. EXP’s environmental capabilities allowed the team to address complex contamination issues, while EXP’s landscape architects addressed the park’s aesthetic and functional rejuvenation.
EXP and ECC worked together to remove 17,500 m3 of low-level radioactive waste and metal-contaminated soil, restoring a creek, installing steel sheet piles, and restoring the site into a new park with amenities.
Communities prioritize environmental health and quality of life, and Port Hope Lions Park demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration and commitment to restoring land for community use.
EXP provided civil engineering services to facilitate the park’s restoration. This included structural assessments and improvements, ensuring the park’s infrastructure could support and enhance future use and activities at the park. An important civil aspect of the remediation included the assessment and restoration of the creek passing through the site.
Landscape architecture was an essential step in preparing the park for the public. EXP efforts included both a conceptual park plan that received public and municipal review and input to enhance the park experience. The final restoration plan included numerous additional features such as an enhanced trail system, better sloped conditions to make the creek an enhanced visual feature with better access, and improved picnic area shelters and sitting areas along the new park trails.
The park celebrated its grand reopening in May 2025.
EXP continues to be a part of the Port Hope Area Initiative, supporting the Government of Canada’s commitment to the cleanup and management of low-level radioactive waste.
Services
Environmental, Civil, Landscape Architecture