Ojibway Prairie Complex

{{Short description|Complex of parks and nature reserves in Windsor, Ontario, Canada}} {{Distinguish|Ojibway Provincial Park}} [[File:Ojibway Prairie in Late Winter (27006397226).jpg|thumb|right|Oak savannah at Ojibway]] The '''Ojibway Prairie Complex''' is a 350-[[hectare]] complex of [[park]]s and [[nature reserve]]s on the west side of [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. It comprises Ojibway Park, Tallgrass Prairie Heritage Park, Black Oak Heritage Park, and the Spring Garden Natural Area, owned and managed by the City of Windsor,<ref name="Overview"/> as well as Ojibway Prairie Provincial Park, owned and managed by [[Ontario Parks]].<ref name="OntarioParks"/> Other natural areas are present adjacent to these parks that are not currently protected.<ref name="Overview"/>

The complex protects one of the largest remnants of [[tallgrass prairie]] and [[oak savannah]] in Ontario.<ref name="ManagementPlan"/> These open habitats are present due to sandy soil over a bed of clay, which is less suitable for the growth of trees.<ref name="Overview"/> The use of [[prescribed burn]]s is important to manage these habitats.<ref name="Overview"/> The complex is notable for its high diversity of plants and animals, including over 160 provincially rare species, more than any other site in Ontario. Several insect and plant species are not known from anywhere else in Ontario.<ref name="Rare"/> Examples of protected [[species at risk]] found here include [[Butler's garter snake]], [[Pantherophis gloydi|eastern foxsnake]], [[eastern prairie fringed orchid]], and [[dense blazing star]].<ref name="SAR"/>

The [[Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway]], constructed between 2011 and 2015, runs just east of the complex. Natural habitats containing various species at risk were present in the area prior to construction, and various management and restoration activities have occurred to mitigate negative impacts.<ref name="Parkway"/>

The Ojibway Prairie Complex includes the [[Ojibway Nature Centre]], which offers free exhibits, public education, and summer programmes for children.

==National Urban Park== In February 2022, Windsor West MP [[Brian Masse]] submitted a [[private member's bill]] in Parliament to have the Ojibway Prairie Complex considered by the [[Government of Canada]] for a new National Urban Park.<ref name="windsorstar.com">{{Cite web|url=https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/federal-budget-makes-it-official-windsor-gets-ojibway-national-urban-park|title=Federal budget makes it official: Windsor gets Ojibway National Urban Park}}</ref><ref name="cbc.ca">{{Cite web | title=MP, Caldwell First Nation applaud millions for Windsor's Ojibway National Urban Park in federal budget {{!}} CBC News | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/windsor-essex-budget-reaction-1.7175361 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416214218/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/windsor-essex-budget-reaction-1.7175361 | access-date=2025-08-30 | archive-date=2024-04-16}}</ref>

In April 2023, Ojibway Shores, the last natural coastline of the [[Detroit River]], was transferred from the Windsor [[Port Authority]] to [[Parks Canada]] for inclusion in the potential NUP for $1.3 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/windsor/article/new-national-urban-park-in-windsor-moves-closer-to-becoming-a-reality/|title=New national urban park in Windsor moves closer to becoming a reality|first=Bob|last=Bellacicco|date=April 17, 2023|website=CTVNews}}</ref> Previously, the WPA had been considering this land for an industrial site.<ref name="windsorstar.com"/>

Lands considered for the NUP include Ojibway Park (Tom Joy Woods), Black Oak Heritage Park, Ojibway Shores, Spring Garden ESA, Ojibway Provincial Park, Tallgrass Prairie Heritage Park, and Oakwood Nature Area. Lands in the neighbouring town of [[LaSalle, Ontario|LaSalle]], such as Brunet Park and Stanton Woods, are also being considered.<ref name="windsorstar.com"/>

In April 2024, Finance Minister [[Chrystia Freeland]] announced that $36.1 million of the 2024 Federal Budget were being set aside to create the [[Ojibway National Urban Park]] over the next five years.<ref name="windsorstar.com"/><ref name="cbc.ca"/>

==See also== *[[Parks in the city of Windsor, Ontario]] *[[Ontario Parks]] *[[List of Ontario parks]]

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="Overview">{{cite web |title=Overview of Ojibway Prairie Complex |url=http://www.ojibway.ca/complex.htm |website=Ojibway Nature Centre |publisher=City of Windsor |access-date=26 August 2020 |date=9 November 2015}}</ref> <ref name="Rare">{{cite web |last1=Pratt |first1=Paul D. |title=Provincially Rare Vascular Plants and Wildlife of the Ojibway Prairie Complex |url=http://www.ojibway.ca/raresp.htm |website=Ojibway Nature Centre |publisher=City of Windsor |access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> <ref name="OntarioParks">{{cite web |title=Ojibway Prairie |url=https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/ojibwayprairie |website=Ontario Parks |publisher=Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks |access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> <ref name="ManagementPlan">{{cite book |title=Ojibway Prairie Provincial Park Management Plan |date=8 January 2002 |publisher=Queen's Printer of Ontario |url=https://www.ontario.ca/page/ojibway-prairie-provincial-park-management-plan}}</ref> <ref name="SAR">{{cite web |title=SPECIES AT RISK in the Ojibway Prairie Complex |url=http://www.ojibway.ca/SARbrochure.pdf |publisher=City of Windsor |access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> <ref name="Parkway">{{cite web |title=Environment |url=https://www.hgparkway.ca/node/4 |website=Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway |publisher=Wood |access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> }}

[[Category:Parks in Windsor, Ontario]] [[Category:Nature centres in Ontario]] [[Category:Protected areas of Essex County, Ontario]] [[Category:Nature reserves in Ontario]] [[Category:Education in Windsor, Ontario]]