After our funding request for a trail linkage was rejected by the province, Council asked staff to investigate alternative ways to proceed with the project. At their last meeting, the Millbrook Valley Trails Committee offered their endorsement of the development of this trail link, noting a wide variety of benefits it would provide. First it would offer a connection between the residents of the new development and Millbrook; it would also offer a new recreation opportunity that could help build tourism; and if the trail is brought out to King Street at Station Park then it could also offer a connection to the Millbrook Valley Trails system by going south at Main Street to the fair grounds.
Staff and several members of the Millbrook Valley Trails Committee completed a tour along the old rail line to examine the site possibilities and constraints. While the group encountered several small ravines that would require the building of pedestrian footbridges, they concluded that much of the terrain already has a defined trail system that is currently being used by the public, but it wasn’t always clear that the existing trail system remained on municipal property and some of the land was very wet.
The Towerhill Subdivision is required to build a storm water management pond which will be located north of the old rail line coming out to Tupper Street. The firm has provided verbal support for this trail link extension to the village of Millbrook and going east along their drainage route, and it could be incorporated into the Phase Two plan which is scheduled for 2017. We have also received verbal approval to proceed with the project from the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, provided the requisite permits were secured.
Staff concluded that a downtown trail link should be developed from 70 King Street in Millbrook, proceeding north east along the old rail bed owned by the Township of Cavan Monaghan, and exiting out to County Road 10. The link will be developed in two phases. Phase One will see the development of the trail link from Station Park proceeding to McGuire Drive, while Phase Two will proceed in conjunction with the Towerhill Subdivision which is scheduled for 2017. The estimated cost for Phase One $13,000 to cover the construction of two or three pedestrian footbridges, the completion of a survey of the trail of the route, permits, land purchase and legal costs. Council agreed to transfer total of $13,000 plus municipal HST from general reserves in order to proceed with this project. KG
