Opening Trails and Doors in Waterford
Mark your calendars! Waterford will be one of 70 participating communities in Trails Open Ontario 2011. Activities are being planned for Saturday, August 13 on the Waterford Heritage Trail.
Two walking tours will be offered at 10am and 2pm. Walkers are to meet at the Waterford Legion on Nichol Street for a 3km loop walk that will cover part of the trail, including the Old Black Bridge, and link into beautiful downtown Waterford. Walkers will wander by heritage homes and Doors Open participating locations.
A 20+ km cycling tour is also being offered at 10am. Cyclists will meet at the Old Dump Parkette on Mechanic Street and ride the trail north of Waterford towards Brant County. The trail passes through marsh lands and farm fields with plenty of wildlife sightings. There are a total of 12 locations participating in the Doors Open event.
For more information, visit: Doors Open, Trails Open Ontario.
Trail Talk
Since its inception, I have been a regular walker, cyclist and cross – country skier on the Lynn Valley Trail between Port Dover and Simcoe. Every season has something special to offer from spring wildflowers to spectacular autumn foliage. It’s a natural retreat from our urban communities.
I recently read an article that talked about the health benefits of walking. They included: strengthens your heart; prevents Type 2 Diabetes; good for your brain; good for your bones; alleviates symptoms of depression; improves fitness; decreases obesity; and helps prevent physical disability. Since retiring from full-time employment, I have been walking more. With friends I have walked from end to end on the Bruce Trail, the Grand River Valley Trail, the Southern Upland Way in Scotland, part of the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland and part of the El Camino in Spain. Our local trails offer many kilometers of training pathways. I know others use our trails for training for marathons and triathlons, as physical therapy from illness or injury and to travel with purpose from community to community. For me, when my mother lived at Cedarwood Village in Simcoe, the LVT was a great cycle path for some of my regular visits. It is also a favourite dog walking trail. Now that we have the added connectivity, I think it is exciting to contemplate travelling from Dover to Paris, Cambridge, Brantford and Ancaster; all via our linking rail trails. I look forward to hearing more through my involvement with our Pathways organization.
Submitted by: Donna McMillan
Turkey Point Mountain Biking Club
There’s a new club in town! Approximately 60 cycling enthusiasts, of different backgrounds and all ages, have formed the Turkey Point Mountain Biking Club [TPMBC]. We share a love for the sport and our respect for the environment in which we ride. In order to be heard as a respected and responsible voice, we have decided to incorporate as a club and become a member of the International Mountain Bicycling Association. www.imba.com
Mountain biking in the Turkey Point area started back in the mid 1990s when mountain bikes first came on the market. Back then the existing fire trails were a perfect place to ride these new off- road bikes. Over the years, changes in bike technology has changed the sport of mountain biking.
Single track trails have become the mainstay of mountain bikers. A single track trail is simply an 18” to 24” ribbon of trail with many twists and turns, making mountain biking appealing. Single track trails can also be enjoyed by hikers, joggers and bird watchers. The TPMBC incorporates low environmental impact and best erosion practices in building and maintaining trails. We are in the process of securing permission and partnerships with local property owners in order to preserve and promote the sport.
Mountain bikers follow the golden rules of trail etiquette:
- Leave the trail as you found it.
- Stay on the trail once the trail is built.
- Ride within your ability and control your speed.
For more information contact: Robert Luke at 519-428-2439 or [email protected]
Discover Norfolk County Walking Club
What a great way to get active, meet new friends and discover Norfolk County! This is a friendly, informal recreational group of walkers of all levels. We meet weekly on Thursday evenings from May to October.
New this year is the time: walks will be starting at 6:30 pm.
Walks are held throughout the County on local trails and points of interest. Walks are held rain or shine. Please wear appropriate footwear, bring water and bug lotion.
Here are the dates and locations for June and July. Check www.norfolkpathways.ca for additional dates.
- June 2, Backus Woods, meet at main entrance buildings off Lakeshore Road
- June 9, Port Dover/Silver Lake, meet at Silver Lake parking lot
- June 16, Brook Conservation Area, meet at Simson parkette
- June 23, Delhi Quance Dam Trail, meet behind Delhi arena
- June 30, Norfolk Sunrise Trail, meet at Argyle St., Simcoe
- July 7, Port Ryerse, meet at beach parking area
- July 14, Waterford Heritage Trail, meet at Alice St. train station parking lot
- July 21, Turkey Point Look Out Bluff, meet at Provincial Park entrance
- July 28, Normandale [in town], meet at General Store
If you require more specific location directions, please contact Ingrid at 519-426-8866 Ext 2303.
Waterford Heritage Trail
Our trail awaits you after a long winter.
Although we cannot use the Black Bridge in Waterford right now, it won’t be long before we will stand mid span and enjoy a panoramic view of the Waterford Ponds. The Ontario Realty Corporation, who holds our lease, has the engineering drawings on their desk and when approved the bridge conversion will begin. We’ve been told to expect the approval mid May and those planning a June wedding might want to consider the photo opportunity this will provide.
Of course nothing is possible without fundraising and our next event is our annual golf tournament Saturday, June 11 at Springview Farm Golf Course. The low cost of $100 gets you 18 holes of golf, cart, steak meal and guaranteed sign-up prize as well as silent auction and penny table. Help us pay the rent and have a good time in the process. For information and booking call Terry at 428-0060.
We are expecting work to begin soon on the Thompson Road Bridge. Completion of this project will allow safe passage over Thompson Road and unimpeded access to Brantford, Hamilton, Cambridge and beyond.
Once the Black Bridge is completed the link to our trail north will cross Mechanic Street, cross College Street and curve over Robinson Road to join the existing trail near concession 6. When the final legal papers are delivered this project is a go.
As you can see we have a busy spring ahead and encourage you to join us.
Submitted by Frank Woodcock, Waterford Heritage Trail
Save the date!
An Open Street event is being planned for Thursday, June 30th on Norfolk Street in downtown Simcoe. The street will be closed to traffic for the day and FREE on-street activities will run from 11am to 4pm. All are welcome. Rain or shine. For more information, contact Michele Crowley at 519-426-6170 Ext 3239 or Larry Dawson at 519-426-5150.
Good Neighbours
I recently had a conversation with Gord Pennington about trail adjacent property owners. He mentioned that if he owned land beside a new trail location, that he’d have concerns, issues and fears too. I wasn’t sure if I had heard him right since Gord is a well-known local trail advocate and Lynn Valley Trail member.
We were discussing the number of trail studies that show how, over time, opinions towards trails have improved among homeowners on or close to trails. Gord explained that it is very important for trail groups to talk with adjacent property owners and put some of their fears to rest; the two biggest fears being an increase in vandalism and crime and a decrease in property values. Luckily, study after study and our own trail experience have proved the opposite to be quite true.
Myth #1: Trail development will in-crease crime and vandalism along the trail corridor.
The reverse is generally true. More use usually means fewer problems. Trail users tend to drive out trouble makers. On the Ogden River Parkway in Utah, the development of the trail system has virtually eliminated crime and unwanted behavior. The residents along the system are very pleased and have become users and advocates.
Myth #2: Development of a trail will have a negative effect on property values.
The effect of a trail on neighbouring property is generally good in terms of property values. Numerous studies suggest that trails are prime attractions for potential homebuyers and usually increase property values. According to Tom Wharton of St. George Open Space in Utah, “Some developers have found that property sells faster if it is connected to the trail system. Some property values increase almost 20% if homes are located near a trail. Along the trail are places where homeowners have built connecting trails from their property for easier access.”
We know that living near the trail system increases the value of a property because people want this. The local real estate listings now advertise that a property is near the Lynn Valley Trail because it sells! Developers promote their existence close to a trail system and their numbers will tell you that a property close to the trail is worth more and will sell faster.
My favourite quote was from an Indiana real estate agent commenting on the new local Monon trail. ”It may not have sand or crashing waves but the Monon trail is the equivalent of beachfront property in the Indianapolis area.”
Thankfully, the LVT has developed good relations and cooperation with our neighbours over time. Norfolk County and the new rail trail committees have put in a lot of time and effort to build positive relationships with their new neighbours. It has been a win-win situation for all!
Submitted by Rob Luke, Lynn Valley Trail Association
Sources – National Trails Training Partner- ship – www.americantrails.org
LVTA Carolinian Planting
The Lynn Valley Trail Association volunteers have been planting native Carolinian tree species at a selected location on the trail this spring. Project leader, Paul Beischlag, has cleared an easy to water and maintain planting area. Eising’s Garden Centre is a partner on this project.
Plantings will include:
- two Kentucky coffee trees,
- two tulip trees,
- five red buds,
- three nannyberries and
- three elderberries.
Be sure to look for the new plantings. But we aren’t telling you where they are!
Norfolk Pathways for People Members • www.norfolkpathways.ca
- Joyce Flexman, Chairperson
- Donna McMillan, Port Dover Enhancement Association
- Gord Mason, Trail Advisory Committee
- Al Ladd, Community member
- Ruth Loughton, Community member
- Anne Wynia, Community member
- Rob Luke, Lynn Valley Trail
- Sam Menhinick, Community member
- Janice Robertson, Long Point Region Conservation Authority
- Ingrid Zyma-Irvin, Norfolk County Community Services Dept. 519-426-8866 Ext. 2303
- Bruce Robinson, Community member
- Frances Edmonds, Delhi Rail Trail
- Steve Weinstein, Delhi Rail Trail
- Frank Woodcock, Waterford Heritage Trail
- Michele Crowley, Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit 519-426-6170 Ext. 3239
2011 Slate of Officers
- President: Paul Cunningham • 519-583-1378
- Treasurer: Robert Johnstone • 519-428-9913
- Secretary: Paul Beischlag • 519-426-8591
- Past President: Rob Luke • 519-428-2439
Directors
- Jane Ashenden…………………519-428-8615
- Bob Borthwick ………………..519-583-1970
- Scott Fletcher ………………….519-426-6218
- Mike Davis ………………………519-429-3323
- Bill Macdonald ………………..519-583-0324
- Malcolm Meller ……………….519-583-1124
- Peter Munzar …………………..519-583-1101
- Gord Pennington …………….519-426-2676
- Dan Robinson …………………519-428-2487
- Charlie Upshall ………………..519-583-9544
- Joe Robinson …………………..519-583-2022
- Barb Boyko ……………………..519-583-3971
- Diane Clark……………………..519-426-0339