Over the weekend, Minister of Transportation, York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney was in town to officially announce project plans and funding for a new, world class walking and cycling trail system along the waterfront, which will be the largest conservation project in Bradford’s history.
The approximate $40 million dollar project stems from a Trails Master Plan study that was in the works for over a decade and is part of a long-term investment in the recreational and transportation infrastructure for East Gwillimbury and BWG.
“The town was hoping for help with funding for this project, and now it looks like there is funding coming,” noted Mayor Rob Keffer. “(MPP) Caroline and her team have been working very hard on this. It’s a great opportunity to open up the waterfront that we do have in the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.”
The 20+ kilometre project aims to connect existing trails already in place, such as at the Lions Park, Henderson Memorial Park, and Alan Kuzmich Memorial Park, with proposed new multi-use trails which will expand the network and connect Bradford to Newmarket, Scanlon Creek Conservation Area, the Holland Marsh, Bond Head, East Gwillimbury, and the Trans Canada Trail to the North.
“I was so excited to receive the proposal from Bradford and East Gwillimbury,” shares MPP Mulroney. “As we’re building up the Bradford Bypass, there’s great opportunities to develop more active transportation and our trail system. We have the opportunity to unlock so much of our natural world right here and not only revitalize parts of our existing trails system but actually create a whole new one too.”
Mulroney adds that the benefits of the Bradford Bypass go beyond the road itself and this project is being implemented in collaboration with municipalities who will work closely with the Ministry of Transportation to identify even more opportunities to revitalize the town.
“This is huge for our economic development opportunities, tying the trails into our downtown and creating a real waterfront amenity,” states BWG Coun. Jonathan Scott. “We’re really excited about this project because it’s been in the books for a long time and moving it forward is going to be fantastic for our environment, our conservation goals, and also just the quality of life. It’s something tourists and residents alike can enjoy for years to come.”
With the development of the Bradford Bypass project underway, consideration was made for pedestrian and cycle underpasses with safe, accessible, and convenient crossings through an interconnected trail system while preserving and conserving the agricultural land which makes up the bulk of the area within the town, including the Holland Marsh.
Attention was also made to ensure the project’s construction will be directed away from any significant natural environmental features, such as wetlands adjacent to the Holland River, and farmland.
“This project opens up more space… we have a river that people don’t access and these trails are going to let them see that, and anything that gets our residents outdoors is great for their health and well-being as well,” said East Gwillimbury Coun. Loralea Carruthers. “We’ve been trying to open up more and more trail systems and this is a great opportunity to expand our trail network.”
“It’s a great project to work with our neighbours (East Gwillimbury),” adds Deputy Mayor James Leduc.
Carruthers says during the pandemic, East Gwillimbury saw more people using the existing trail systems in place like the Nokiidaa Trail, that runs along the Holland River, which prompted the town to invest in more infrastructure.
“It’s a forgotten area of East Gwillimbury,” she notes. “So, this project will help to expand those areas.”
“Council is very supportive when it comes to recreational activities,” says Leduc. “It’s a long process to build these trails but it’s great when we get the partnership from the province and municipalities. This area has a lot of potential and I look forward to seeing it when it’s done… and we appreciate the support from the Ministry on this.”
Phase 1 of the project along the canals could be underway as early as spring 2022, with the second phase along the river in the years to come as the Bradford Bypass gets built.
