King implements new trails master plan

September 9, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilons
King Township now has a strategy for its network of trails.
Councillors adopted the Trails Master Plan Aug. 24.
Councillor David Boyd said he loves the plan, stressing the Township needs to control the trail network. Councillor Debbie Schaefer also likes the plan and asked that an annual update be presented by staff on the progress.
Chris Fasciano, director of parks, recreation and culture, said they’re working with landowners to expand the existing network. The trails plan is a beginning point, not an end point, he stated.
The intent of the Trails Master Plan is to explore the expansion of the current and proposed trail system, while considering the feasibility of an overall inter-connectivity of trials in neighbourhoods, communities and across the township as a whole.
The development of the plan includes a comprehensive research and consultation process. It included a review of all Township strategies; creating an inventory and assessment; meetings with key stakeholders; public information sessions, and a community survey.
According to the report from Thinc Design, King has roughly 100 kilometres of trails, ranging from paved paths in municipal parks to trails in privately owned natural environments. The goal is to improve connectivity throughout the township.
In order to achieve this, multiple stakeholders have to come together to coordinate the efforts. That includes York Region, conservation authorities, utility providers, etc.
The plan also recognizes formal and informal equestrian trails. Access to these has changed, predominantly due to land transfers to environmental organizations, such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
The plan not only provides long-term planning objectives, but also amenities to augment the trails; signage; construction and operational requirements.
Fasciano said in order to proceed, staff will identify the short- and long-term needs to include in the 2016 budget.
The creation of the trails plans was one of the mandates of the Sustainability Plan.
The adoption, according to Fasciano, “… determines the roles of the Township and its trail related partners in the provision and maintenance of trails and establishes formal trail construction and maintenance standards.”
Completing the system in the long run won’t come cheap. It’s estimated the total costs could hit $6.7 million. It would be broken down, however, into short, medium and long-term projections. The costs are related to construction, materials and maintenance.
“It is important to understand that the costs associated with the plans, specifically for construction, may not be borne completely by the municipality as many are through joint ventures and partnerships,” Fasciano observed. “The Plan outlines a long list of potential funding sources that will need to be explore and leveraged where possible to complete the objectives.”