Town of Kentville seeking input

Active transportation sessions will help form 10-year vision, strategy

The Town of Kentville is developing an active transportation plan — and wants to hear from community members.

The first of three public consultation sessions to gather input for Kentville’s Active Transportation Plan was held on Jan. 13. Participants met at the Calkin Building for hot chocolate and light refreshments before being introduced to the town’s available active transportation equipment. This was followed by a walking tour of the downtown area.

The Kentville Active Transportation Plan will provide an all-encompassing vision and strategy for active transportation in Kentville for the next 10 years. This will include suggested improvements to infrastructure, policy recommendations and strategies to increase the number of active transportation users.

Parks and Recreation director Rachel Beddingfield said they are excited about this work to make walking and wheeling in Kentville easier and more enjoyable.

“We want active transportation to be safe, practical and accessible for people of all ages and abilities,” Beddingfield said.

Input from residents is essential to the project. There are multiple opportunities for community members to share their thoughts on the future of active transportation in Kentville, either in person or online.

“We are excited to hear from the community about what is working and what priorities folks have for improving the experience of moving through Kentville as pedestrians and cyclists,” Beddingfield said.

There will be a workshop for seniors in the Bluenose Lounge at Kings Riverside Court on Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The one-hour workshop will facilitate an activity and discussion about how experiences on the streetscape can be improved.

There will be a drop-in session at the Kentville Library on Jan. 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Residents will be introduced to the project and can discuss their experiences at the open house style event.