A trail for all seasons

Celebration of the Millennium Trail revitalization

The PEC Trails Committee held an event last Thursday for the longoverdue celebration of the Millennium Trail revitalization. Starting at 3 p.m. members of the committee lead a casual trail ride or walk starting at the Belleville Street trail crossing and then heading east. They returned to the Highline Hall at the Wellington District Community Centre for light refreshments provided by Bantam Catering, and a presentation about the history of the Millennium Trail, the improvements made to date, and plans for the future. Attendees had a chance to participate in a raffle for prizes including gift certificates provided by local vendors, cycling gear and a bicycle donated by Ideal Bike.

The emcee for the Highline Hall portion was Rob Legge, in charge of fundraising for the PEC Trails Committee. He began by noting the tremendous improvement to the Trail. “When I first rode the Trail in 2000 from Wellington to Bloomfield, the rocks were unbelievable. It was like an obstacle course. Today, I can ride my thin-tire road bike along the trail and it’s just great,” he said. The trail is now used by walkers, runners, cyclists and ATV riders. In the winter, there are cross-country skiers and snowmobilers sharing the trail as well. The trail revitalization could not have happened without the dedicated effort of the late Barry Davidson. His spirit loomed large throughout the presentation. Trail Committee member Pat Maloney called Mr. Davidson “the heart and soul of the trail.” The revitalization effort was begun by Mr. Davidson and a dedicated group of volunteers starting with a short section north of Wellington. After years of effort, and over $700,000 in funding from the municipality, the province, grants, and including $175,000 donated by members of the public, the Millennium Trail now has a flat gravel surface from its beginning at Carrying Place to the terminus at White Chapel Road, a distance of about 46 kilometres. Over a period of several months starting in 2018, volunteers cleared the encroaching vegetation on either side of the trail in preparation for resurfacing. Mr. Davidson took part in every aspect of the trail revitalization, including driving a heavy roller to flatten the gravel surface.

The PEC Trails Committee is responsible, with the assistance of the municipality, for maintaining and improving the Millennium Trail. Recent enhancements include resurfacing the trail between Picton and Bloomfield, new signage, and the construction of several kiosks—modelled upon the look of a railway station. In several places, The Garden Club (formerly the Horticultural Society) and the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists have planted native shrubs and flowers to promote ecological diversity. In addition, over 150 new trees have been planted along the trail.

Mayor Steve Ferguson praised the work of the Trails Committee and its partners. “The Millennium Trail is absolutely a joy, and everyone in this room should be extremely proud of everything that has gone into its rehabilitation. It was the collaboration between the Trails Committee, the municipality and grant funding that raised the [money] to rehabilitate it. It was really an extraordinary achievement. It is one of the jewels of Prince Edward County. This is something we should all be proud of,” he said. Sherry Karlo, of Karlo Estates Winery, said the trail is important to her on both a personal and professional level. She is a regular user of the trail, and the winery has built its own trail—called the Millennium Way—to connect to the Millennium Trail. A significant number of customers make their way to the winery from the Millennium Trail via this connecting trail. One of the final speakers was Wellington resident Ron Waslenko. He was one of the early volunteers to help revitalize the trail, and he marvelled at the amount of work Barry Davidson put into the project. “This trail should bear the name of Barry Davidson,” he said.