Reclaiming the trail

John Inwood (left) and Barry Davidson with some of the tools used to trim back the brush lining the Millennium Trail. Inwood worked for Hydro One and Ontario Hydro for many years. He is handy with the chainsaw. His sons Brent and Scott now work for Hydro One. They arranged to borrow a wood chipper from Hydro One and persuaded seven of their co-workers to join them, making the brushing and clearing work proceed much more quickly.

Opportunities sprout from linear park

The chips are flying. Chainsaws are humming. Bit by bit the brush and overgrowth threatening to consume the Millennium Trail is being trimmed back by a gang of volunteers, including some from Hydro One, who have brought with them key pieces of forestry equipment that makes the job much more manageable.

Phase two of the Millennium Trail restoration project is currently under way—extending the rehabilitation effort west from Wellington to Danforth Road. When completed by the end of this month the Friends of the Millennium Trail will have restored about five and a half kilometres of the 49-kilometre former rail line. The trail within the village was restored in the ’90s. Hikers, cyclists and others will soon enjoy a hard, smooth trail from Conley Road to Danforth Road—more than eight kilometres.

The first step is clearing the brush back to enable the heavy equipment to get in. Then a bulldozer will regrade the now deeply rutted trail. Then a procession of trucks will bring hundreds of tonnes of limestone screening material, donated by Essroc, to be spread on the trail. Paul Greer Excavating will rake, grade and pack the trail smooth. It is a lot of work—and much of it is donated and volunteered. Along with Greer’s, A-1 Excavating and Reg Grosse will contribute equipment and operators to the effort.

Already businesses and organizations are beginning to explore ways to make their facilities more accessible to cyclists and hikers using the trail.

One of those to embrace this opportunity is Richard Karlo.

Karlo Estates Winery’s property backs onto the Millennium Trail south of Danforth Road. Karlo has already carved out an entrance onto his property and is developing a pathway that will lead cyclists and hikers through the vineyard and up to the winery.

Karlo Estates is also a member of Cycle Ontario, an association that provides certain amenities to those travelling by bike.

“It is a really interesting way to explore the vineyard and indeed the County in a different way,” explained Karlo. “When you explore an old trail like this it gives you a different sense of the countryside, a perspective you don’t get on the roadway.”

Barry Davidson is thrilled Karlo Estates is jumping aboard this opportunity. It is part of Davidson’s vision and determination that has propelled this restoration and the creation of the Friends of the Millennium Trail.

Wellington on the Lake resident Howard Norton prunes the wild grape vines on the trail next to the golf course. Norton showed up for days in any weather to lend a hand and support the project.

“It provides hikers and bikers a place to pause, have lunch, use the facilities and of course enjoy a glass of wine,” said Davidson. “The golf course is also going to put up a sign offering a picnic table for lunches, access to washrooms as well as a canteen during course operating hours.”

Others are starting to think about ways they can connect to users of the Millennium Trail— Karlo has been speaking with other wineries within close proximity to the trail. Many are taking note. Karlo imagines a wine tour one day with the trail as the thread linking the participants.

The distances are manageable for almost all. Richard’s mom lives in the Wellington on the Lake and uses the trail now to walk to the winery. She is 86.

“If she can do it—anyone can,” said Karlo.

From the outset Davidson planned to develop sections as funds, resources and volunteer efforts became available, as a demonstration to others about what the trail could be. He hopes it will inspire others to join in the effort and perhaps challenge others to undertake the restoration of other sections.

Wellington Rotary has been a strong backer. Davidson knows, however, the effort needs broad public support, so he is planning a public meeting to encourage others who share his vision of what the trail might be—to join with him to develop a Prince Edward County Trails Association.

“The idea is to consider a trail system through out the County with the first priority being, finishing the Millennium Trail,” said Davidson. “I see this as a broader thing, if there are people who share my vision of it. The association would not only finish the trail but also do annual maintenance of this trail but also look at any other trail in the County.

Davidson notes that the County is blessed with many great trails at Sandbanks Provincial Park as well as the County’s various conservation areas.

He is eager to get this phase complete so the Friends can get going on phase three as early as this summer.

“For many people, this will be the most fun,” said Davidson, “because it involves building the kiosk and signage that describes the history of the trail and the railroad in this community.”

The Friends still have to raise $10,000 either in cash or in kind. But so far the generosity of Prince Edward County has propelled this project more than eight kilometers— with $60,000 already raised toward the project.