The City of Sarnia has completed a $40,000 naturalization project along Berger Road, transforming the trail corridor between Modeland Road and Rapids Parkway into a more shaded and wildlife-friendly space. The project, which wrapped up this week, involved planting 760 native shrubs and 27 native trees across 22 designated planting pods to improve the area’s visual appeal and ecological health.
This initiative follows concerns from local residents regarding the previous state of the corridor, which had become overgrown with invasive weeds and was criticized for being unkempt. By replacing these areas with native species—including sugar maple, white oak, and red osier dogwood—the city aims to provide a cleaner, more resilient landscape that requires less maintenance. The revitalization project was approved by Sarnia City Council after a community consultation process in October 2024, which featured a concept plan developed by Degroot’s Nurseries.
A key goal of the work is to create better ecological connectivity between the Howard Watson Nature Trail and the Wawanosh Wetlands Conservation Area. The city describes the project as a managed approach that balances the need for attractive community spaces with the benefits of supporting local pollinators and wildlife. This work also aligns with the city’s broader Urban Forest Management Plan, which serves as a guide to maintain and grow the local tree canopy.
The project received $5,115 in support from The Reforestation Project, an initiative led by agents at RE/MAX Sarnia Realty Inc. that directs a portion of commissions toward local environmental efforts. City forestry and horticulture teams carried out the final planting phase this spring, following initial vegetation removal that began in the fall of 2025.
