Greening Wellington

Millennium Trail restoration to include major tree replanting effort

Residents got a closer look Thursday evening at plans to restore a section of Wellington’s Millennium Trail that was heavily impacted by construction of the new trunk watermain and sanitary sewer infrastructure.

County officials—including Manager of Engineering David MacPherson, Project Manager Chris Timpson, Environmental Technician Cody Lowe and Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer—hosted a public information session at the Wellington and District Community Centre, where display boards outlined proposed restoration work for the trail corridor between Cleminson Street and Belleville Street. The section has been closed for an extended period while crews completed underground servicing work.

The project encountered additional setbacks earlier this year when and unidentified underground aquifer flooded excavation areas during the final stages of watermain installation and the construction of the pump station, extending the closure and delaying restoration plans.

A significant component of the plan focuses on replacing trees removed during construction. County staff presented a tree planting program that calls for 155 new trees—double what was originally allotted thanks to a successful grant application— and shrubs throughout the corridor, with species and planting locations selected in accordance with the municipality’s Tree Management and Preservation Policy.

The restoration will include nearly 100 deciduous trees of varying species spread along the trail. Among them are, red oak, red maple, basswood, tulip tree, Kentucky coffee tree and common hackberry. An additional 37 larger coniferous trees will be planted, including eastern white pine, red pine, white spruce and tamarack. The landscaping plan also features 22 shrubs, spread throughout the trail.

Many attendees expressed support for the proposed mix of trees and their placement along the trail.

Some residents, including Peta Hall of the Wellington Community Association, questioned whether spring planting is the best approach, particularly if dry conditions persist through the summer months. She also raise concerns about how newly planted trees would be watered and maintained.

According to County staff, the contract states the contractor is responsible for just one month of watering.

Beyond tree replacement, the County plans to restore disturbed areas with fresh topsoil and seed to encourage the return of native vegetation. The trail itself will be rebuilt with a 150-millimetre layer of crushed limestone matching the existing surface.

Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer was happy with the turnout.

“We had good numbers and I recognized many familiar faces that have been following this project since the very beginning. It’s nice to be at a point where we are sharing good news and residents can see a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Engelsdorfer, who also noted that staff are working diligently to get the trail ready for a busy summer season.

Although construction delays forced revisions to the overall schedule, County staff expect most of the reamining work to be completed by the end of June. A small detour between Consecon Street and West Street will still be in place while the final pump station connections are made.

Wellington on the Lake residents will be happy to know that the section between Cleminson and Consecon should open in the coming weeks.