PREC-2014-006

To:Mayor and Members of Council

From:Parks & Recreation Department

Meeting:2014-04-01

Subject:Greenbelt Cycling Route

RECOMMENDATIONS

That Report PREC-2014-006 regarding the Greenbelt Cycling Route, be received; and

That Council endorse the Caledon Trailway as part of the Greenbelt Cycling Route; and

That staff work with the Waterfront Regeneration Trust in determining signage quantities, location and installation of signage supplied by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  • The Waterfront Regeneration Trust (WRT) received funding from the Greenbelt Foundation to create a signed cycling route to showcase the Greenbelt’s natural and cultural heritage and assets.
  • The WRT has identified the Caledon Trailway as acandidate to be part of the Greenbelt’s Cycling Route’s northern leg route and would represent the northern leg’s only off-road section.
  • The WRT will supply signage that identifies the route at no cost to the Town with the expectation that the Town of Caledon will install the signage using existing Town resources.

DISCUSSION

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust (WRT) received funding from the Greenbelt Foundation to create a signed cycling route to showcase the Greenbelt’s natural and cultural heritage and assets. The Greenbelt Route will be a signature cycling route that will showcase the world’s largest Greenbelt, the Lake Ontario Bioregion and the Town of Caledon. The project involves work to create connections from the Waterfront Trail to the Greenbelt Route to form regional loops that encompasses a significant part of Lake Ontario and its watershed.

In the Fall of 2012 the WRT conducted a feasibility study for the project and met with representatives from seven regional municipalities, including Caledon, to discuss route possibilities. Based on these meetings, the WRT made their recommendations to the Greenbelt Foundation to move towards project implementation.

A route has been identified through Caledon that primarily follows the Caledon Trailway with short on-road connections through to Terra Cotta Conservation Area in the west and along Mount Wolfe Road to the east. The Greenbelt Route will be a signed route. The on-road section will be marked every 2 – 5 kilometres. The off-road sections on the Caledon Trailway would consist of small wayfinding signage that can easily fit into existing branding of the Caledon Trailway by way of installing on existing Trailway gates. An audit would be conducted by the WRT and reviewed by staff to determine sign locations, quantity and quality. Supply of signage will be provided by the WRT to the Town at WRT’s cost.

Financial Implications

There will be no cost to the Town of Caledon for the actual signage. However, Town staff will be required to install the signage provided by the WRT. The Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments report that the signage can be installed within their approved operating budgets for 2014.

Applicable Legislation and Requirements

N/A

COMMUNITY BASED STRATEGIC PLAN

Strategic Objective Goal 3: Live Healthy. Increase awareness of the Town's recreational offerings and trails.

NEXT STEPS

  1. Advise WRTthat Town of Caledon has endorsed the route plan through Caledon.
  2. Relevant staff work with WRT in determining sign locations and quantity needed.

ATTACHMENTS

Schedule A –Correspondence from WRT.

Schedule B – Map of Proposed Greenbelt Cycling Route.

Schedule C – Samples of Signage

Schedule D – Enlarged Map of Caledon Trailway Portion of Greenbelt Cycling Route.

Prepared by: Brian Baird

Approver (L1): Brian Baird

Approver (L2): Kristene Scott

Approver (L3): Debbie Thompson

Approver (L4): Douglas Barnes

Approver (L5):

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