1. The Grand Trail
Connecting Communities through a Network of Intertwining Land & Water Trails
Presentation to Kitchener Council
June 12, 2017

2. The Grand Trails project
The Vision
The Grand Trails project
will connect people
and communities through heritage, cultural and outdoor experiences in the
Grand River watershed.

4. The Grand Trails Project
To create a network of connected trails following the Grand River and its tributaries
From the source in Dundalk Highlands to the mouth at Lake Erie
To include existing and new, land and water trails, to form a truly unique recreational experience.

5. Grand River Watershed Trails
CP Trail (Dundalk to Owen Sound)
Elora to Cataract Trailway
G2G Rail Trail / Kissing Bridge Trail
Walter Bean Trail & Grand Trunk Trail
Cambridge to Brantford Rail Trail
Brantford to Hamilton Rail Trail
LEGEND
Existing Multi-Use Trails
Potential Grand River Trail Route Grand Valley Trail
Bruce Trail
Waterfront Trail
T.H. & B. Rail Trail

6. The Grand Trails Project
To include appropriately accessible and serviced destination and experiential trails
To connect communities, places of interest and activities.
To provide connections to Lake Ontario, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay via other major regional trails in line with the Ontario Trail strategy.

8. Values
Develop the Grand River Watershed as a living storybook of adventure by partnering with all stakeholders to re-connect people and communities with the Grand River and each other, through intertwining trails on and off the river.

9. Values
Encourage community-focused cultural, heritage, educational, athletic and spiritual events on and around the river, acknowledging Indigenous connections with the river.
Be inclusive of everyone and accessible to people of all ages, interests and abilities in all seasons.

10. Values
Encourage people to live in harmony with the environment by allowing people to interact with nature and educating them about the ecological diversity of the watershed.
Encourage research into the heritage and ecology of the watershed

12. Benefits Improve public health
Reduce environmental footprint— encouraging active transportation as opposed to use of cars
Increase social capital
Improve recreational opportunities
Create tourism opportunities

13. Costs
Municipalities will be in charge of their own infrastructure and make decisions regarding investments
Project will attract provincial and federal infrastructure investment to fill gaps
Signage and way finding
Webpage and mapping apps
Access points and amenities

14. The Grand Trail Proposal has been endorsed by:
Brant County
City of Brantford
Haldimand
City of Cambridge
City of Waterloo
Region of Waterloo
Six Nations of the Grand
Grand Valley Trail Association

15. We respectfully request Council’s approval in principle for the Grand Trail Project concept.  In addition, we would very much appreciate city staff support to work with us to make the Grand Trail a reality and a letter of support for future funding applications.

16. Questions?