Waterfront enjoyment

Plans unveiled for Picton Harbour walking trail

Awalking trail of any kind in the vicinity of Picton harbour has been long-awaited, anticipated and hoped for over many years by many residents. It took a big step closer to becoming reality last week when the municipality presented an outline of proposed plans for the Harbour Trail. Ashley Stewart with Community Services, Programs and Initiatives, part of a task team that came together at the request of council in July 2020, has been working on the Harbour Trail for the past several months. Tasked with providing background information, research and advice, the task team presented its findings to the Community and Economic Development Commission last Monday. Stewart said the municipality’s role has been to project manage the task team and the development of recommendations, but also to help connect the dots between planned and existing sections of boardwalk within the harbour, “so there is a cohesive thread that is woven throughout the harbour.”

The proposed walking trial would go from Chimney Point (water treatment plant) to Brick Kiln Point, a distance of approximately 2.15 kilometres, where it is expected the trail would be developed over several years. The proposed Harbour Trail would go to Hill Street, up to Main Street, to Shire Hall, turn down the hill and at the mouth of the harbour, then connect with the boardwalk currently being constructed. Plans show it going past the boat launch, with a future boardwalk to be part of the Port Picton development. Ancillary trails have also been added to the proposal that will go along Bridge Street and circle back, so there is variety and loop. Task team member Lindsay Reid said one of the key aspects is looking at the assets that are already there, such as the public parks, as well as future parks as part of the Port Picton development. “It’s about layering those with the key views and vistas that have been identified as having significance in previous studies,” she said.

Seven lookouts have been identified that will link the trail together and will come with a little seating, waste receptacles, and information panels for wayfinding, also providing a historical and cultural understanding of the area. “As well, there have been ideas of how we could weave in other interesting bits of our history and knowledge related to this place,” Reid said. “The Mohawks have talked about whether there would be opportunities for landscaping that could speak to their history here, as well, their plants and medicinal knowledge, settlement and cultural histories on how this place has evolved over time,” outlined Reid.

“We were tasked with having a meaningful connection to Main Street, so that visitors along the Main Street had an opportunity to glimpse beyond Shire Hall and engage with the water,” she explained. “Also, to engage with the natural, indigenous and marine heritage and to do this with a wide community lens.“ She said the idea is to provide an all encompassing experience of the harbour, a space she describes as “dynamic”, noting the escarpment side, as well as beautiful views overlooking the harbour, and closer access points to the water.

The task team is seeking to create more inclusive waterfront for all to enjoy. “We have been working with the property stakeholders around the harbour to come up with a plan that meets their needs and what they’ve already got underway.” Consulted were the Ministry of Natural Resources, Quinte Conservation, as well as Indigenous consultation with the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, youth groups, community organizations and advisory committees. Described as a “jewel of the County”, Stewart said there is strong support for the harbour, calling it more of a “hunger” as people crave more public outdoor spaces in the County, something that has been exacerbated during the pandemic. “The task team has come up with a plan that really seeks to enhance and make use of existing infrastructure rather than starting from scratch,” said Stewart. She said they heard some initial concerns around investing in the harbour when they are lots of other priorities. “The task team was extremely conscious of these initial costs to put in the harbour trail and also any on-going maintenance, and this is a big reason why the task team is recommending that the harbour trail will have boardwalk elements as opposed to a boardwalk that circles and stretches around the harbour as a whole.”

Reid said the intent of the trail is to provide a recreational experience to enable and promote the enjoyment of the harbour which is a unique natural and cultural space in the County. “The intent of this is to provide a walking trail for both residents as well as visitors to give them another thing to do in Picton,” she said. Many plans have been developed over many decades on how to improve walking trails and accessibility to the harbour, but none were ever implemented. “The earliest plan we found dates back to 1989, but even since then the harbour remains largely undeveloped and under used,” Stewart said. Since several studies were already in place, the task team had key design principles to work with, especially from a 2017 plan. “They spoke to ecological sensitivity and restoration opportunities, engagement and opportunities for recreation, so providing some sort of a four-season walking trail,” outlined Reid. She said they were looking at opportunities from the water side as well as the land side in terms of access points, and to provide more open spaces along the waterfront setting. Accessibility was also an important element for the task team where they had input from the Accessibility Advisory Committee ensuring everybody’s interests were considered to make it an equitable space.

“This is a gem that has been neglected for far too long and such an asset for our community that does need to be enhanced,” said councillor and task team member Phil St-Jean. He said the single biggest question is “how does it get paid for now and in the long term?” The task team have been looking at various funding sources, including accessing grants, funds and fundraising, but St-Jean suggested the parkland reserve fund of $750,000 “appears to fit that criteria,” he said. “I’m excited there is funding there for these types of developments for all our community across the entire County without dipping into taxpayers pockets directly.” Next steps will see the proposal come before council in the fall for approval, with public consultation taking place in September.