The Upper Canada Heritage Trail will be able to finish up another kilometre of groundwork before the winter weather sets in.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors approved the use of $21,000 remaining in the town’s discretionary grant funds toward completing phase two of the Heritage Trail.
All councillors voted in favour of the decision except for Couns. Gary Burroughs and Maria Mavridis.
When completed, the second phase will extend the trail from Line 2 to Line 3 roads.
Coun. Wendy Cheropita brought the issue forward and highlighted the urgency of funding needed.
“We are trying to get staff assigned to this project so that we can get up to Line 3 — which was already a commitment the town has previously made — before the snow comes,” she said.
A grant application for $250,000 was submitted through the federal economic development fund, but the Heritage Trail committee said the application is unlikely to succeed.
Coun. Erwin Wiens questioned whether or not the project would be able to be completed on time, even with funding.
Kevin Turcotte, the town’s manager of parks and recreation, confirmed that with proper funding the second phase can be completed by the end of 2024.
Wiens was in favour of the decision.
“I pass (the trail) all the time, it gets lots of use, we want to finish this,” he said.
It is also the first time the Heritage Trail committee has needed money from council, Wiens said.
Coun. Gary Burroughs suggested using funds from the municipal accommodation tax, referring to a possible tourism component.
Kyle Freeborn, the director of corporate services for the town, said he is unfamiliar with tourist uses of the trail.
“I see it more as a local piece of infrastructure,” he said.
Burroughs said NOTL’s hiking and bike trails are tourist attractions.
“I’m assuming the Heritage Trail would be an added incentive,” he said.
“I have a problem with spending other money when this money is available,” Burroughs said.
