“I don’t find a lot to disagree with this project,” said Cooksville resident Alan Kan.

The Lakeview Waterfront Connection is the largest undertaking in decades, building 9.5 kms of shoreline for public access. A degraded section of the shore is being transformed into a naturalized conservation area over the next seven to ten years, connecting the waterfront trail between Mississauga and Toronto.

Those are two cities Jeff Patterson knows well.

Patterson said he grew up playing hockey in Port Credit and now lives in Etobicoke, “very close to where this is happening,” he said.

He wanted to check out the details to see how he will be impacted; a bridge will connect the area to Lakefront Promenade Park.

Patterson said he cycles, swims and paddles, and naturally, “the waterfront is important to me.”

The beach area, he was pleased to see, will be maintained for turtle habitat.

With details such as an amphitheatre, promontory, and armour stone, “all these things are a long time coming,” Patterson said.

Updates were presented regarding the design of the conservation area and a new construction access route and proposed amendment to the environmental assessment.

The original plan had the construction route cutting through the Arsenal and Marie Curtis parks. It’s now west of Dixie Rd.

“I’m glad we managed to work that out,” said Ward 1 Coun. Jim Tovey.

He said it was “very gratifying” to see so many community members attend the meeting.

“I think a lot of people were surprised that it is so beneficial to the environment,” said Tovey.

Having said that, with construction, “there’ll be a lot of trucks,” in Lakeview, Tovey said.

The project recently won the 2015 Natural Heritage Award from Heritage Mississauga.

Construction is scheduled to begin in July.