One of Bracebridge’s most popular year-round trails is in line for a number of upgrades including a new trailhead, parking upgrades and an AODA complaint section.
During the most recent Bracebridge general committee meeting, councillors agreed to include the development of a designated trailhead and parking area at the Strawberry Point Trail adjacent to the Henry Road unopened road allowance be included in the draft 2023 Municipal Budget and Business Plan.
The Strawberry Point Trail is a five km trail and part of the Trans Canada Trail network. It navigates through green spaces and wooded areas connecting Strawberry Bay onto Henry Marsh and ending at James W. Kerr Park.
In 2021, a private landowner approached Town staff with a potential land donation opportunity adjacent to the unopened road allowance portion of Henry Road. These donated lands would provide sufficient space for a trailhead and parking area for users visiting the Strawberry Point Trail – Henry Road access point.
Staff noted that the access point is a very popular starting point for users who frequently visit the locally known Chickadee Trail and Henry Marsh areas, for both summer and winter trail activities.
Council also heard in a staff report that Henry Road is heavily used by residents and visitors looking to gain access to the trail and routine bylaw patrols often find the road to be congested resulting in public safety concerns for safe travel of the roadway on Henry Road and onto Beaumont Drive.
The new parking area would help to alleviate some of those concerns, councillors heard.
In addition, the section of the trail locally known as the Chickadee Trail would be a suitable location to construct an AODA-compliant accessible trail, said staff.
Staff told the committee that that section of the trail is quite flat and with some resurfacing work it would allow for people in wheelchairs or with mobility issues to access the Chickadee Trail portion.
The committee was unanimously in favour of the new upgrades.
“We’ve heard clearly from the public that it’s overwhelmingly supported,” said Mayor Rick Maloney.
Coun. Mark Quemby also extended a special thanks to the donors of the adjacent lands.
“This should help alleviate problems for the people who live on that road and sometimes have guests use their driveways,” he said. “We should do more of this on all of our trails.”
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