Cole Harbour - Lawrencetown Provincial Park

Overview

A relatively large coastal park system that offers a range of outdoor recreation opportunities, including supervised swimming, hiking, and picnicking, as well as plays an important conservation role

Protection Values

Relatively large land base, a large portion of which contributes to regional representation and biodiversity; contributes to Province’s goal of protecting 12% of its landbase by 2015; complements provincially-owned Cole Harbour marsh; endangered species (piping plover) nest on beach (Rainbow Haven and Conrad Island); Site of Eological Significance (Conrads Island); several archaeological sites within Cole Harbour Heritage Park.  One species of bird found within the Cole Harbour portion has been classed as being critically imperiled.  On the Lawrencetown portion, one non-vascular plant species, one bird species and one small mammal species were classed as critically imperiled.  In addition, two bird species were listed as imperiled and six more as vulnerable to extirpation or extinction.  On the Rainbow Haven portion, one species of bird was listed as critically imperiled.  In the Conrads Island/Beach portion, one species of vascular plant and one speci

Education Values

Opportunities to interpret a variety of natural and cultural themes including coastal processes, saltmarsh, other ecosystems, endangered species, landscape evolution; early settlement

Tourism Values

Provincially and regionally significant coastal park system; includes regionally significant beach parks, proximity to rails to trails corridor, Trans Canada Trail passes through Cole Harbour Heritage Park; trail system developed close to metro

Outdoor Recreation Values

Swimming, hiking, picnicking, surfing, fishing, kite flying

Annual Visitation

High visitation numbers

Operating Cost

$64,000

Other Site Considerations

Includes individual properties of Cole Harbour, Conrads Beach, Rainbow Haven Beach and Lawrencetown Beach.

Zoning of the Cole Harbour Coastal Heritage Park causes some difficulties with demand for other uses that are not consistent with the entire network of beaches – in particular Lawrencetown Beach which has a high recreational use and Conrods Beach is minimal recreation and high conservation.

Stoney Beach has a dangerous rip current and swimming is discouraged at this location but people continue to use it for a variety of activities

Susceptible to coastal processes (storm events with high tide surge or wind driven waves) that cause site erosion