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The Halifax Urban Greenway

The Halifax Urban Greenway is a concept for a multi-use trail in peninsular Halifax, closely following the Canadian National Railway alignment from the Chain of lakes Trail on Joseph Howe Drive to Point Pleasant Park.

To date, a one-kilometre section along Beaufort Avenue between South Street and Marlborough Woods/Roxton Road has been completed.

The CN Railway Cut

Working railway alignments are usually a source of industrial blight, to be avoided at all costs. However, any line servicing the Ocean Terminals on Halifax Harbour in the South End required a massive cut through the bedrock to get a train from sea level on Bedford Basin to sea level on Halifax Harbour.

With a depressed rail line, vegetation could survive and grow. Today, a river of greenery flows through the city along the railway. The vegetation and continuous tree canopy is a haven for birds, wildflowers and other flora and fauna.

Project Benefits

Green space and natural habitat running through the city will be preserved. People from the city and beyond will be able to walk, bike and jog the trail. There will be newly created parkland.

The Greenway will link public parks and water access points to the Northwest Arm. The map at right shows the location of these.

Major destinations along the cut are Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University and Point Pleasant Park. Someday the Greenway will link up to other trails heading through the Port of Halifax and along the waterfront on its south-eastern end and towards Bedford Basin on its north-western end.

The Halifax Urban Greenway Association

The Halifax Urban Greenway Association (HUGA) is a community organization that has been set up to work with HRM, the universities, volunteers, business, corporations, and foundations to plan for the preservation of the Greenway and its development for public access.

This is an exciting project for metro, promising great benefits. HUGA's original concept plan for the Chebucto Road to Point Pleasant Park portion of the Greenway, including the full text, photos, drawings and maps is available for download.

The map above shows Phase One covering the length of Beaufort Avenue. The projected Phase Two extends to Saint Mary's University and a new pedestrian bridge across the rail cut to Pinehill Drive.(Click on image for larger map.)

HUGA is holding its Official Opening for Phase One of the Halifax Urban Greenway at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 26th, at the parkette at the corner of Beaufort Avenue and South Street. All are welcome !

You can download the one-page flyer highlighting the event in this PDF file.

Design Study for Marlborough Woods to Saint Mary's University section - an under-graduate thesis by Dalhousie Bachelor of Community Design student Jessica Wagner (May 3, 2007)

The design drawing for the new bridge over the railway cut is now available (May 16, 2006)..

"Why a Bridge ?: The Evolution of the Greenway Concept" and accompanying map "Rejected Southern Alignment Map" - why the Greenway is the way it is, on our "Reports" page.

Saint Mary's University Campus Master Plan - "The South Campus and The Oaks" - the Greenway is described and shown in relation to present and future campus buildings.

The Long-Term Vision - the complete Greenway concept, from Point Pleasant Park to the Fairview Cemetery