The Valley Land Trail that connects the University of Toronto Scarborough campus to the Highland Creek Valley has been recognized by the National Urban Design Awards (NUDA), the Toronto Star reports.
The sweeping, 500-metre-long trail – completed three years ago – won in the civic design projects category for providing an accessible link for students and the community to the Highland Creek Valley.
Mark Schollen, designer of the Valley Land Trail, told the Star the idea was to deliver “the experience of descending from the treetops, through the tree canopy and down to the watercourse below.” He added that the trail, a favourite for nature lovers and photographers with its many lookout points, features a wheelchair charging station and LED strips built into handrails that illuminate the trail at night without disturbing nocturnal wildlife.
“This project is recognized for its attention to detail, inclusiveness (accessibility), and ecological sensitivity,” said a NUDA jury member in a statement. The urban architecture awards are presented each year by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects.