A New Urban Heaven & New Earth

Rouge National Urban Park

I see a new heaven.
I see a new earth
as the old one will pass away,
where the fountain of life flows
and without price goes
to all people who abide in the land.

There, there on the banks of a river bright and free,
yielding her fruit, firm in her root,
the Tree of Life will be.  R

Voices United 713

I've observed often enough that the bible begins and ends in a garden, although in the book of Revelation it is an urban garden with a pristine river and diverse trees. This vision challenges the "pie in the sky when we die" notion of the fulfillment of time when Christ returns. We have the opportunity as Christians to participate in Christ's reign as a present possibility for all Creation, as well as a future promise.

Knowing and affirming this, it's always good news when we hear of initiatives to protect and rehabilitate and expand urban parks and green spaces. A few days ago a group of partners including the federal government expanded the land of the Rouge National Urban Park at the east end of Canada's largest city, Toronto. 



Environment Minister Catherine McKenna was on hand to announce a new new education and welcome centre, as well as the additional hectares. A CP24 reports McKenna saying :

“A big thank you goes to the Toronto Zoo and the TRCA (Toronto Region Conservation Authority) for transferring this land so we can build a welcome centre that educates Canadians young and old about how amazing this park is,” McKenna said. “This park is on public transit and it is within an hour of seven million Ontarians. That is incredible because some of our parks are really far away. This park provides a gateway so that people can get a taste of nature, get out of their houses, get away from their phones and just enjoy what is so beautiful.”

Rouge National Urban Park spans an area that covers 80-square kilometres and includes parts of Toronto, Markham, Pickering and the Township of Uxbridge.

McKenna said that the park is an “extraordinary, incredible place” that is home to 1,700 species of plants and animals, including 23 that are currently deemed to be at risk. 

I like that a free shuttle to the park is available for those who don't have vehicles, sponsored by TD Bank and MEC. It's important that visiting parks isn't an experience for a privileged few.