Damage at popular Mississauga park remains following summer floods

Residents who head out to Erindale Park in Mississauga for a walk or bike ride will likely notice it has changed quite a bit over the past few months.

Trails in the park that go along the Credit River are damaged in many spots, making it inconvenient for walking and cycling.

The City of Mississauga confirmed to INsauga.com that the park experienced “extensive damage” from two major summer storms.

“Most of the trails that are beside the river were washed out, and some of the earth underneath the trails and bridges is eroded,” a City spokesperson said.

On July 16, a huge amount of rain fell on Mississauga; 97.8 mm was recorded at Toronto Pearson Airport.

Roads and homes were flooded in what Mississauga Fire Platoon Chief Steve Kraft called “a lifetime event.”

Throughout southern Ontario, the July 16 weather event caused $940 million in insured damages, according to initial estimates.

Around one month later, the second major flood occurred.

On August 17 and 18, the Greater Toronto Area was again hit with unusually heavy rain, leading to more damage, including in Mississauga.

Earlier this week, initial estimates revealed the August flood caused more than $100 million in insured damage throughout southern Ontario.

Overall, Ontario saw more than $1 billion in insured damage from flooding this summer, making it the second-most expensive summer for flooding in the province’s history, the Insurance Bureau of Canada said, only behind the Toronto flood of 2013.

What is the City doing to fix Erindale Park?

More than seven weeks after the last flood, Erindale Park still bears scars.

As seen in photos, some parts of the trails are either difficult to walk on, or unwalkable altogether.

They’re eroded in parts, with large tree roots exposed in at least one section, and littered with rocks elsewhere.

For people looking to cross over one of the bridges, the pathway leading up to it is partially gone, making it difficult to get across.

The City said it is working to address the issues.

“Where possible, City parks staff have repaired/reinstalled granular pathways to ensure safety,” the City said.

“Where we haven’t been able to do so, staff have signed and barricaded off sections of the trail which need completion of more extensive engineering works before trail repair/reinstallation can occur.”

A timeline for when all repairs may be made wasn’t provided.

The City said that in the meantime, residents are encouraged to follow directions on signs and to keep back from trails that are currently barricaded and off limits.

— With files from Karen Longwell