There’s progress to celebrate at the Chemetron Lagoon site in Port Hope.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has announced that the parking lot and a section of the Waterfront Trail at the site are now open to the public with through-only access permitted.
The partial reopening is part of the ongoing revitalization under the Port Hope Area Initiative. Once used as an industrial waste lagoon for pigment production, the site is undergoing a long-term environmental cleanup and transformation into safe, usable public space.
CNL reminds visitors that the area remains under active monitoring, and testing and restoration work will continue through to approximately 2027. For now, residents can access the trail as a connector route but are asked to remain on designated paths and avoid tampering with fencing or removing the black fabric barriers still in place.
“We understand the community’s interest in the transformation of this space,” said CNL in a public notice. “Visitors are encouraged to check out the on-site signage for a glimpse of what’s to come.”
Once complete, the area will feature walking trails, seating, native tree plantings, a sensory garden, and habitat enhancements for birds and wildlife.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)