Town may finally see progress on developing walking trail

Published 10:18 am Thursday, June 30, 2016

Development of a walking trial in Kenbridge — a project stymied for months by concern over its path — finally made some progress as town council considers changing the course.

Kenbridge has long been taking steps to develop a walking trail, but the work has been going slowly as the town lined up easements from landowners before moving forward and seeking grant money for the project.

The town would like to see the trail run along the old railroad bed on Broad Street to Barnes Street, and have it go from Victoria to the community of Dundas. Area leaders have been working with three landowners to get easements, and is now considering “a dog leg around a little bit” of property that they hope will satisfy concerns and allow momentum on the project to pick up.

Subsequently, now that it appears the project could be ready to pick up speed, Mayor Emory Hodges told fellow council members at their Tuesday, June 14, meeting, he wants to be sure those are the only landowners the town still has to get permission from. “We don’t want to get down to the other end and there is somebody down there who doesn’t want to cooperate,” he said.

The town has long wanted to move on the project, and in February Hodges said the town should start pushing in earnest to make headway.

During the most recent meeting, Hodges reiterated his desire for the town to get it done, noting, “We need to keep pushing on that.”