Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Huronia Trails, Bryan McKell - May 12th Chapter meeting

12 May 2011 at Huronia Museum in Midland

Huronia Trails

Bryan MacKell spoke to the members of the Chapter on the existing and [potential trail routes across Simcoe County. He stressed that he is trying to help all 16 local municipalities with funding to provide “connecting links” to already existing trails. The region already has 225km of existing municipal trails many from abandoned railways. However, due to a number of factors this network has a number of gaps. So the County has developed a Simcoe County Trails Strategy to enable these gaps to come together into an inner-connected trails system.

Older and historical connections such as the Nine Mile Portage, the Penetanguishene and Coldwater Roads may in time provide local municipalities with additional opportunities.

Bryan stressed that the current 200,000.00 in grants will be used to encourage the linking of existing trails and then to develop a marketing strategy to get people using the trails in order to attract tourism.

A number of questions were fired off to Bryan such as how the Chapter might play a role and how archaeological and historical sites which lie along many of these trails might provide useful and interesting playing and exhibit opportunities. But for now it appears the County thrust is to create that integrated trails network-and then start building specialized components along its routes in conjunction with each municipality that wants to create other venues along the route. Bryan was thanked by Jamie Hunter who presented Bryan with a framed thank you and a membership in the Chapter for the coming year.

Thank you very much Bryan.
Jamie Hunter

L. Bryan McKell and R. Jamie Hunter

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