PEMBROKE — The County of Renfrew hosted six public open houses in October and early November with 474 individuals attending from a wide geographic area including beyond the County of Renfrew. The aim of the open houses was to engage, inform and seek input from County residents on the proposed future use of the recently named Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail (formerly the discontinued CP Rail Corridor).
The open houses provided attendees with an opportunity to speak directly with elected officials and staff and ask questions and express any concerns they had. Maps and computer GIS mapping tools were available for reference, among the individuals attending were cyclists, hiking/active living enthusiasts, snowmobile and ATV riders, business owners and ratepayers.
Chair of the County of Renfrew Development & Property Committee, and Chair of the CP Rail Corridor Advisory Committee, Councillor Bob Sweet provided a brief introduction and welcoming address. Public comments were gathered at all six meetings in writing and further submissions from residents will be received until January 1st, 2017 either in writing or by email ([email protected]).
Once all comments are received they will be summarized by County of Renfrew staff, and presented to committees and County Council for review. Using the K&P Trail management plan as a template, combined with input from the comments received from the public and local municipalities, the County will develop a trail management strategy for the Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail. This strategy will outline rules, regulations and specifics for the use of the trail.
Municipalities lobbied Federal and Provincial Governments and OC Transpo since 2010 to assist in preserving the rail system, but ultimately CP Rail discontinued the corridor with the intent to sell the 296 km. stretch to a single entity. The first rails were removed by CP Rail in August of 2011. Renfrew County, Lanark County and the Township of Papineau-Cameron formed a partnership in 2011 and in April 2016 signed a lease agreement and a donation agreement to acquire ownership of the 296km discontinued CP Railway between Smiths Falls and Mattawa. The county’s portion of the corridor (218km) runs from the Arnprior/Ottawa border in the south to the Renfrew/Papineau-Cameron border in the north.
Coun. Sweet said, “Over the last several years we have moved from attempting to preserve rail service in our region, to a new initiative to partner with others to purchase and develop a 296 kilometre multi-use four season trail that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. I wish to thank all those that have co-operated and worked together over the many years leading up to today.”
