About this project
The City of London is engaging residents about the Highland Woods Lookout.
In December 2025, the City shared a letter with residents explaining that this lookout would undergo routine maintenance to replace the structure’s existing wooden deck and railing system which has deteriorated. Following that letter, we heard from the neighbourhood both support for maintaining the lookout and also concerns about its overall value and use.
After considering this feedback, the City has decided to seek additional input before proceeding with the planned maintenance work. The purpose of this engagement is to better understand the level of community interest in retaining the lookout structure.
We hope to hear your comments about whether the lookout should be maintained with modest improvements, or if the structure should be removed and the Rossmore Court walkway closed.
Potential options for the lookout
If the City were to invest in the lookout, the improvements would potentially include:
- Replacing decking boards and the railing
- Adding a garbage receptacle
- Adding a built-in bench
- Installing educational signage about native species
- Treating invasive species to improve visibility and encourage growth of native species
If the City were to remove the lookout, a construction project would be planned to decommission the structure. The City would then take steps to fully remove the lookout, close and/or potentially sell the connecting walkway linking to Rossmore Court.
Prior to 2019, the trail system in Highland Woods consisted of three distinct areas.
- The southern portion was a trail with short sections of elevated wooden boardwalk.
- This section of trail and its associated boardwalks were redesigned and reconstructed in 2020.
- This portion of the trail is not part of the current public engagement opportunity.
- The central portion was an on-grade wooden boardwalk through a silver maple swamp.
- By 2020, this section of boardwalk had undergone significant deterioration due to its wet environment. It was unsafe for continued public use.
- Under current regulations, reconstructing this section of boardwalk was determined to be both financially and environmentally/ecologically unsustainable, so it was removed and will not be replaced.
- This portion of the trail is not part of the current public engagement opportunity.
- The northern portion was an elevated wooden boardwalk and concrete walkway linking to Rossmore Court.
- In 2021, the eastern portion of this elevated boardwalk was removed as it no longer connected to a sustainable and managed trail system.
- The remaining portion of this boardwalk connects to Rossmore Court and currently serves as a lookout providing opportunities to view the silver maple swamp habitat and the birds within the Highland Woods complex.
- We are collecting your input about this northern portion of the trail.
