Council wants to hear more about long-term maintenance
Norfolk County’s plan to support a major paving project on the Heritage Trail in Waterford is on hold pending receipt of additional information.
Norfolk council recommended supporting the $500,000 project at its March 8 committee meeting. However, council put the brakes on the idea at its regular meeting Tuesday after having two weeks to think about it.
“We never got into the discussion about whether we actually supported paving it over in the first place,” Vittoria Coun. Chris VanPaassen said. “I want to take a lovely walk and see Mother Nature in its raw natural state but I want to pave over a walkway to walk on.
“I don’t get it and I don’t see the need to pave the trail. Maybe someone can enlighten me on the benefits of that. I think there is a lot of downside. One I can think of is – down the road – who is going to maintain that?
“We see that quite often. There’s a great, wonderful idea and the community gets behind it and we do something but then we’re on the hook forever and ever to maintain it.”
Andy Kooistra, a member of the Shadow Lake committee of the Waterford Heritage Trail Association, pitched the plan for the 11-kilometre paving work at the March 8 meeting of council. The work, Kooistra said, would start in Waterford and extend north to the Brant County Line.
Kooistra said the community would raise $400,000 toward the project if Norfolk County – owner of the trail right-of-way – chipped in $100,000. Council agreed in principle two weeks ago with the understanding that the trail association will have the $400,000 in hand before the county acted.
Bill Cridland, Norfolk’s general manager of operations, said paving work like this typically has a lifespan of about 20 years. Beyond that, however, Cridland suspects the county – as owner of the trail – would be responsible for its care and upkeep.
At the March 8 meeting, several council members spoke about what an engine for economic development the trail has proved to be in downtown Waterford and surrounding area.
The trail is busy year-round but especially so in spring, summer and fall when hikers and cyclists from a wide catchment area are drawn by the stunning view of the Waterford Ponds and downtown Waterford, especially from the former Black Bridge railway trestle. Council members agreed that economic activity in downtown Waterford has improved as a result.
Council hopes to learn more about the municipality’s obligations going forward at its next committee meeting April 12. Representatives of the trail association will be invited to speak at that meeting about their long-range vision for the care and upkeep of the paved section in question.