Over the last several months, a small group of Napanee residents have come together to promote and help develop safe and enjoyable walking and cycling trails in and around Napanee. We hope to convert the unused rail bed starting at Dairy Avenue into a trail. Other interesting and helpful routes are also on the drawing board. A long-term aspiration is to connect the in-town trails to the Cataraqui Trail in Strathcona. The health benefits, both mental and physical are indisputable. The environmental benefits are significant, as are the economic benefits to the downtown core. The cost of trail development truly is a pittance in the grand scheme of things.
The favourable response from many of our citizens, both in person, and on social media has been very gratifying. That positive response suggested to me that it is now time to move forward and put our concepts into an operational plan.
The consultant hired by our town to research and write a master plan for recreation certainly agreed. People want walking and cycling trails.
Several weeks ago, we presented this good idea to the town council.
The response from a majority of the councillors was disheartening. At the council meeting following our proposal, a motion was swiftly passed, declaring some of the important land that we had proposed for trail development as ‘surplus’. This opens the door to sell that land to private interests, permanently blocking development of the extension of the rail trail from Napanee to Strathcona. At Strathcona, the trail could link to the much-loved Cataraqui Trail which traverses forest, field, farm and town, on its 100 km route to Smiths Falls.
Instead of bravely and creatively fashioning workable compromises that would be acceptable to both proponents of the trail system, and its detractors, our council has simply capitulated to the pressure from two farms and a paper plant. I respect the farmers positions, but I also believe that acceptable solutions to their needs and concerns are attainable through dialogue.
In the case of our town council’s recent decision, I’m left saddened, and angry. A public document clearly states, ‘the key responsibilities of a councillor are to support the public and municipality’s well-being’. If one believes in those sage words, then our council is off the mark in their decision-making on this issue. I don’t have confidence that the council has the well-being of its citizens at heart on this particular issue. The business interests of the few, should not trump the will of the greater community.
I am urging anyone who is interested in making our town cleaner, healthier and a better place to live: make your feelings and ideas known to council, in a respectful, nonviolent and nonconfrontational manner. Use social media, print media, and word of mouth. Please also consider attending the next town council meeting (May 9, 2023) in person or on-line. We invite you to sign our online petition at https://chng.it/BpRkzxDRxc
You can reach our group, Active Transportation Allies at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/napaneeata
Tom Touzel