With council’s unanimous endorsement, responsibility for the management of several sections of trail in the city has been handed over to Guelph Hiking Trails Club (GHTC).
The agreement will also see some informal trails formalized. Among them is a 1.5-km worn footpath along the west bank of the Speed River, known as Rapids Side Trail.
Those lands, explains a staff report, are partially owned by the city, Armtec, the provincial government and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA). The agreement involves only the city-owned portion of the trail, as well as the section it manages on behalf of the conservation authority.
A 200-metre footpath at Marianne Park, owned by the GRCA, is also included in the deal, as is a 330-metre footpath along the north side of the Speed River at Silvercreek Park, known as the Speed River Trail, which includes a potential trail extension.
Trail improvements or modifications are dependent on city approval and will not involve “substantial changes” to existing slopes or removal of material.
However, GHTC would be responsible for removing deadfall trees and branches, clearing vegetation from within one metre of trail corridors, removal of trip hazards and debris or litter, as well as placement of stepping stones in areas of pooling or poor drainage.
GHTC previously managed three sections of trail on the city’s behalf – along the Speed River near the wastewater treatment plant, Arkell Spring Ground trail and along the Eramosa River on city-owned lands that used to be part of the Guelph reformatory property.
In addition, council agreed to give staff the authorization to oversee third-party trails agreements in the future.
