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Ontario boasts over 80,000 km in trails. Whether you're in downtown Toronto or North of Superior, we have a trail for you. The Ontario Trails Council is a registered charity, led by volunteers who promote the development, management, use and conservation of Ontario's trails. You'll find everything from gentle walking trails to rock faces for climbing and water routes to canoe and kayak.
Showing posts with label Trail Counts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trail Counts. Show all posts
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Ontario Trail News 10/08/17 Trailwise - Ontario Trail Stories, Trailhead Canada Updates, Ontario Trail Activities and Trailhead Event Packages!
Monday, July 20, 2015
Ontario Trail News - Ontario Trail Counts and Hamilton Trail Survey
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Learn more about your trails - Trail Counts
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TRAILS
John Rennison,The Hamilton Spectator
Sign posts marking the Hendrie Valley Trails. Hamilton Burlington Trails Council and McMaster University are conducting a survey regarding area trails use.
Hamilton Spectator
Joggers, bikers and even parents pushing baby strollers shouldn't be surprised if someone with a clipboard asks them why they're using Hamilton nature trails.
Throughout the next year, impromptu questionnaires are one of the ways the Hamilton Burlington Trails Council (HBTC) and McMaster University are completing one of the most extensive trail surveys ever conducted in Ontario.
The joint initiative launched on Thursday will use online surveys and up to 36 volunteers to survey trail users on the flyto find out who's walking the trails, how they get around and where and why they're choosing the paths they are on.
The goal is to find out if certain paths could be linked, what trails are most popular and which need attention. In Hamilton, there are more than 130 kilometres of nature trails.
"The City of Hamilton has a lot of trail head counts, but we don't know who they are. Are they on bikes? Are they walking with dogs? Do they live nearby? Do they come here often?" said Wayne Terryberry, HBTC chair and McMaster University Outdoor Recreation co-ordinator.
"What can we use to make the trail experience better? We want to get definite data in different seasons — an annual time table."
The data along with information from community partners like Hamilton Conservation Authority and the Royal Botanical Gardens will go toward building a comprehensive trail map.
"We have 13 survey locations through Hamilton and Burlington and they are going to be surveyed by volunteers, and at each survey there will be a manual head count of people passing by," survey co-ordinator Alex Farquharson said.
Matthew Brodka of McMaster University Outdoor Recreation said one of the challenges facing the study is weather.
"Especially if it's a year-long thing, but we have a passionate group of volunteers who are passionate about the trail system."
Ward 1 Coun. Aidan Johnson said the survey data can have a broader impact on people.
"The more people who use and see nature, the more people who'll want more effective environmental policies and more biodiversity protection," he said.
People interested in helping as volunteers for the project throughout the year are encouraged to visit the Hamilton Burlington Trail website, http://hamiltonburlingtontrails.ca/.
905-526-3434
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Ontario Trails News - Greenbelt must accommodate mixed use trails and farming.
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Find your favorite trail - View Map |
QMI AGENCY
This spring will be remembered as the season of land use deliberations in Ontario. Four significant land use plans are under review and the process could have significant implications for Ontario farmers.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing recently announced a review of four provincial land use plans – The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Niagara Escarpment Plan.
The four provincial land use plans under review are intended to manage growth, protect agricultural lands and the natural environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support economic development in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe and Greenbelt. Through the review process, public consultations will be held to evaluate the plans, consider expansion of the Greenbelt, build transit friendly communities and support economic development.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) participated in an active consultation and advisory role 10 years ago when the first plans were implemented and will be actively involved in the review process. The OFA’s position remains that farmland preservation is critical. With the average loss of 350 acres per day of agricultural land in Ontario, it’s never been more important to address policies to protect this prime resource.
But along with preserving farmland we also need policies to ensure that farmland can be worked sustainably. The OFA encourages the government, policy makers and parties involved in the land use review to consider farmland from our perspective. Preserving farmland, our most strategic resource, preserves the tools necessary for sustainable farming and ensures a local food source.
We will be taking our messages directly to government, providing insight, suggestions and a fair evaluation of the four land use plans. The OFA believes consistency across all four land use plans is vital. We need to see the implementation of fixed urban boundaries and higher urban density requirements as a key element in preserving farmland in areas surrounding the protected land.
The OFA will be engaged in the upcoming public consultation period and encourages all OFA members in the greater Golden Horseshoe, Greenbelt, Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges regions to submit feedback on these land use plans. The 90-day public consultation period will include 12 regional town hall meetings and commenting through the Environmental Registry.
The OFA’s own vice president, Keith Currie, has been appointed to the expert advisory panel for this land use plan review. Currie is one of six members on the panel, including former federal cabinet minister and former mayor of Toronto, David Crombie.
We are encouraged to see the government undertake such a thorough review of these four plans. And we look forward to participating in such an important consultation process because of the significant implications for Ontario agriculture.
Mark Reusser is an executive Member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
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