Trail system seen as a way to boost tourism
Roddickton residents quick to offer to pitch in
A public forum held in Roddickton recently showed there’s a lot of support from residents for a proposed walking trail system in the area. Close to 30 people gathered to participate in the discussion, listen to presentations from municipal representatives and voice their own suggestions. The event was organized by the Northern Peninsula East Heritage Corridor (NPEHC).
A committee has been working with the Department of Tourism to develop a plan to bring current trails up to standard and have them properly maintained.
“Almost everybody in attendance used the trails at some point in time, so people shared similar ideas,” said Joan Simmonds, chair of NPEHC. “They were all concerned about the conditions of the trails and had a lot of ideas on how to improve them, make them sustainable and turn them into an attraction that will encourage people to visit the area.”
Natasha Hynes, a Viking Trail Tourism Association representative, said people were quick to volunteer to help.
“It was clear who would be available to assist with the marketing, who would be available to help with identifying problems that could occur on the trails and who would be able to make sure the trails are kept clear,” said Hynes.
“The purpose of the session was to engage members of the community and encourage them to take ownership of the trails and recognize how great walking trails would add value to the region.”
Tourism Minister Terry French has said the government will support communities if they want to develop a trail network on the Northern Peninsula that will be managed and maintained by municipalities and local service districts with the support of local businesses, residents and recreation groups.
“We have supported such efforts in other areas of the province, and a trail network such as this would certainly benefit the area’s tourism product,” said French. Simmonds is confident the work will soon begin. “Now that we have volunteers, we need to start cleaning up, creating detailed maps and implementing proper signage to mark the trails,” she said.