The Township of Scugog said it has developed a long-term strategy devoted to strengthening transportation within the municipality, with a focus on fostering the use of more active travel modes such as walking and cycling.
One part of its Active Transportation and Transportation Master Plan (AT and TMP) is the development of the trail along Old Rail Lane between the Water Street roundabout and the Boat launch.
As it stands, there are various improvements that can be made to the trail to enhance both its effectiveness for active transportation as well as its environmental impact, said a municipal announcement.
The trail has multiple Norway Maple trees alongside it. Norway Maples are an invasive species in Ontario and can be damaging to the local ecosystem. Scugog plans to remove these trees and replace them with native species in fall of 2022 or spring of 2023. These species include Redbud and Tulip trees, as well as Chokeberry and Serviceberry bushes. Replacing these species will allow improvement to the local environment while simultaneously adding some beautiful colours to the waterfront.
With support of Kawartha Conservation and the RBC Tech for Nature fund, Scugog will be constructing a permeable pavement trail connection along the east boulevard of Old Rail Lane.
Construction is anticipated to take place in the summer of 2022, pending council approval, with completion by the end of summer.
To learn more about the project as well as submit input, visit my.scugog.ca/oldrail.