Trail and parks improvements underway
Several parks, as well as sections of the rail trail in the Municipality of Argyle (MoA), are receiving improvements in various ways.
Ginette d’Entremont, director of Programming and Active Living for MoA, says a decision was made to work on active Transportation initiatives and that they decided directional signage was a great project for some of their areas.
“We heard from the community that safety was important and that knowing where you were if you were hurt was helpful,” she says.
“Also knowing how far you’re walking is great incentive to either push yourself a bit further or/and encourages you to continue to be active.”
Eleven posts with 26 signs were installed from Tusket to Pubnico Head (both ways) on the rail trail.
For the bike route on the Lake Vaughan Loop, 10 bike signs and arrows were mounted on telephone poles so that cyclists are aware of the route.
A cycling brochure that indicates safe places and routes to ride can be obtained from the municipality.
D’Entremont says 58 responses have been received to date through surveys about the signage.
“The feedback is very positive, indicating it’s nice to know how far they have walking/biked etc. Also it’s a nice safety feature in case someone gets hurt.”
The approximate cost was $1,400 for the entire signage project.
“If more funding is available, I’d like to see the signage project completed within the 47 kilometres of rail trail in the Municipality of Argyle,” says d’Entremont.
At the Parc des Jeunes in Wedgeport, an accessibility audit was done on the playground, which was built in the early 1980s. The site includes swings, slides, spring riders and two play structures (one each for younger and older children).
Dalhousie University assisted MoA staff with making changes for accessibility.
So far, $4,789 has been received towards the total cost of about $13,000 in renovations to make the park accessible to all.
Upgrades include two bucket-seat swings, replacement of the pea gravel around the play spaces with engineered wood fibre, addition of access ramps to the play spaces and ensuring pathways to the play spaces are barrier free.
Applications are being made for a Community ACCESSability grant to help with project costs.
Potential upgrades on the horizon for Glenwood Park include: beach volleyball (Natural Resources permission required), extension of swim area, a boat launch for non-motorized boating and construction of a natural playground. Preliminary correspondence is being sent and funding sources are being explored for these projects.