PEMBROKE — Elected Officials and municipal staff were joined by members of local cycling club, snowmobile club, ATV club, and the OVTA; to mark the opening of the Petawawa section of the Algonquin Trail, this region’s section of the larger Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail. This ceremony marked the third official opening of sections of the trail this week. Proceeds of the 2017 Pembroke Zombie Thrill Run this Fall combined with the partnerships established with the local snowmobile clubs, and ATV club provided for the necessary upgrades along some sections of the trail such as brushing, grading, application of aggregate and signage. These upgrades and investments have allowed these sections to be opened at this time.
“It’s going to be a long journey, but this is the start of a tremendous opportunity for economic development, tourism and active transportation,” said Bob Sweet, Mayor of the town of Petawawa. “ I want to thank our partners from Lanark county, and Papineau-Cameron Township, as well as the cycling, ATV, and snowmobile clubs for being here and supporting this trail. It’s a multi-use four season trail for the entire community of the Upper-Ottawa Valley. This trail connects us to approximately four thousand kilometers of other trails in the Province.”
Renfrew Reeve Peter Emon added, “This trail is an emerging major attraction for tourists engaged in hiking, snowmobiling, cycling, all terrain vehicle (ATV) touring, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and nature observation especially with new the connection to the K&P Trail to Calabogie.”
Arnprior Reeve Walter Stack added, “Without the OFSC/SnowCountry support of their volunteers and their success in obtaining $360,000 in grants this year, we wouldn’t have been nearly as far along in trail use as we are this year. Also, the great success of the Zombie Run demonstrates the importance of the Algonquin Trail to the citizens of Renfrew County and the tourism opportunities to come.”
Craig Kelley, Director of Development and Property for the County of Renfrew said, “County Council directed staff to focus initially on trail upgrades in urban areas, and that provided connecting links to other trail systems. The plan is then to continue to open more sections in an outward direction from these areas to close any gaps over the coming years. We’re looking forward to collaborating with municipalities along the trail in 2018 on the upgrades related to the recent Provincial cycling funding”
Renfrew County, Lanark County and the Township of Papineau-Cameron formed a partnership in 2011 and recently signed a lease and donation agreements to acquire ownership of the 296-kilometre abandoned Canadian Pacific Rail between Smiths Falls and Mattawa. The County’s portion of the corridor runs from the Arnprior/Ottawa border in the south to the Renfrew/Mattawa border in the North. The intent is to work with local municipalities, the public and other partners to develop the multi-use trail.
