Kortright Centre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- There is also a Kortright Center in New York.
Kortright Centre is a suburban conservation area operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority located in Vaughan, Ontario in the northern part of suburban Toronto, Canada. It is halfway between Rutherford Road in the south and Major Mackenzie Drive in the north. Is located 38 km northwest of downtown Toronto, 68 km south of Barrie, 4 km (each way) west of Highway 400 and 16 km north of Highway 401. The area is located in a forested area which is dominant in the west and the north. The Humber River is situated in the west and the small creeks of Cold and Harris Creeks are to the north.
The Kortright Centre was opened in 1979. It is named after Dr. Francis H. Kortright, an author and dedicated conservationist.
The area is about 1 km².
The entry is located on the east side at 9550 Pine Valley Drive. It is accessible by a small road which has curves in the north and the parking lots to the north-central part. The speed limit is 30 km/h. Admission is also available. A small creek is situated in the east. The building is accessed by a pathway about 150 m long and 250 m to the gate. Distance from the gate is slightly 1 km and about 500 m from Pine Valley Drive.
The area is surrounded by pine trees to the north and east, especially northeast of the main attraction and the centre and maple trees to the south, and the west.
The attractions include horseriding 50 m to the east not far from the parking lots. A field which is used only for horses is to the north.
Inside the main attraction, there is a shop and in the east is a small theatre showing films that discuss the endangerment of forests in the Toronto area, including the raccoons. The access to the pathway leading to the syrup shacks is located at the west exit.
The newly constructed Earth Rangers Centre is situated about 500 m south of the building and is situated in the southwest. The Centre houses Earth Rangers: a non-profit organization focused on providing environmental education to youth in the Greater Toronto Area. Construction began in the early-2000s. The Centre is between Pine Valley Drive and Kortright Centre.
Between March and mid-April, Kortright Centre features demonstrations of syrup-making as it was done during the pioneer days. Maple syrup products are also served in the main attraction. It shows an old-house in which the Indians used to live during the pioneer times, as well as holes used for sap from the maple trees, which are numbered. It also show older markings from the previous years. Further down the hill is the marking of the biggest maple tree (not an actual tree) which is from Pelham. Inside is the small syrup shack with displays of how maple syrup was made during the pioneering days. The shack has about 5 rows of seats. The distance is about 400 to 500 m west by southwest.
