Welland in the News
City of Welland making connections with new community trails strategy
February 17, 2022
City of Welland making connections with new community trails strategy
People walking along the trail at Merritt Island in this file photo. With a focus on active and connected communities, a new community trails strategy will provide a blueprint for expanding cycling, walking, and recreational trail networks over the next 20 years. KRIS DUBE / TORSTAR FILE PHOTO
The City of Welland is hitting the ground with a plan to improve how people walk, run, and ride locally.
Focusing on active and connected communities, a new community trails strategy will provide a blueprint for expanding cycling, walking, and recreational trail networks over the next 20 years.
It was approved by council Tuesday. The city is projecting it will create $18.5 million in investment into trail systems over the next two decades, according to the report.
The strategy guides the city in improving and enhancing active transportation and trail infrastructure and recommends programming and design approaches to increase community trails, said a news release Thursday.
The city is applying to the federal government’s active transportation fund and seeks other funding opportunities to offset the costs to implement the strategy.
In order to “show the city’s commitment and investment in the city’s trails and active transportation network,” capital funding of $340,000 is to be set aside, said the recent report before council.
“This strategy will pay dividends for our community for a very long time,” said Rob Axiak, director of community services.
“Establishing a direction for our trail networks by focusing on being an active community, Welland continues to make itself a desirable place to live, work, play, and invest.”