As I look forward to the first my Rouge National Urban Park advisory board meeting, I thought it would be important to bring up an opportunity that I see for the Town this year which is to steps toward having our trail system become a recognized ASSOCIATED PARK to Parks Canada RNUP. As we look to the future, the redevelopment of our downtown paired with our economic developments teams work to attract more businesses and “destinations” like additional wineries in town, it’s imperative for us to have a seamless connected trail system that doesn’t terminate into our subdivisions. 15-30 years from now, the RNUP will be filled with hikers, bikers and tourists that can walk from Lake Ontario to our doorstep. To take advantage of this potential tourism opportunity, we need to start planning now.
In September, my wife & I spent sometime with friends in Wellington, Prince Edward County. The Millennium Trail system which was outside out AirBnB takes tourists and residents alike to the growing wine and distillery businesses the county has become famous for. Wouldn’t it be great to take a trail in Stouffville for a glass of wine?
My pics are just scribbles of ideas I have had. The blue lines are new trail connections and the red dots in memorial park are paved paths that could only require way finding signage. If my motion passes, staff will do the hard work of determining what’s possible.
My Notice of Motion will be debated at our Council Meeting on February 16.
