Lakeshore council to seek funding towards “Earth Walk Trail”

Lakeshore council desk before a meeting on Feb. 19, 2019. (Photo by Kaitlynn Kenney)

During a regularly scheduled council meeting in Lakeshore, council talked about asking the County Wide Active Transportation System for financial help in regards to the new features towards the recently named trail.

At the meeting on Jan. 15, council approved the Earth Day celebration and named the trail north of the Atlas Tube Centre “Earth Walk Trail.”

Council also approved the design for the new features for the trail. The first concept designs came with the Carolinian learning garden, which will be the first feature that would be created along the trail.

These are the Earth Walk Trail blueprints. #lakeshorecouncil pic.twitter.com/LW6KLzfBwt

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 20, 2019

“The trail does exist already, but we are looking at upgrading it,” said Coun. Steven Wilder. “The features that we see in the report tonight will be in later this year.”

Wilder believes the cost will be around $40,000 with half coming from council’s budget and the other half potentially from the CWATS program.

If they decide not to support the project, he said council will possibly budget the remaining money for the project.

Wilder said it will be a great opportunity to learn about the town’s natural vegetation and learn more about our past in this region.

Coun. Kelsey Santarossa said the new features have Lakeshore residents excited. 

“It’s something that our residents have been asking for, especially when it comes to shade cover,” said Santarossa. “It gives us a chance to not only celebrate our parks and our community but our commitment to the environment as well.”

She said that there are talks of having an Earth Day celebration in April and the date will be confirmed in a later news release. They are also looking at making this an annual celebration in Lakeshore.

The town has backing from the Essex Region Conservation Authority for the park.

The administration said ERCA is committed to helping with the design of the features and the planting. However they will not be able to attend the opening of the park.  

The town came up with the idea sometime in the fall and in the last few months have started on plans for the project. Wilder and Santarossa think it’s a great community investment and looking forward to seeing the park’s construction.

On my way to a council meeting in Lakeshore to learn more about the park that will be funded at the Atlas Tube Centre.

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 19, 2019

Kirk Walstedt makes a joke about his name being spelt incorrectly in the consent agenda. #lakeshorecouncil

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 19, 2019

There has been no online date for the marijuana questionare in the Lakeshore county due to Ontario's slow progress.

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 19, 2019

The council is debating about the online survey for Lakeshore asap for the sales of marijuana so they can better unserstand the publics opinion. #lakeshorecouncil

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 19, 2019

Steven Wilder has made a motion to start the process of opting into the Mariuana online survey for as soon as possible. He saidc"I know we have the capability in the municipality and other municipalities have done it already."

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 19, 2019

Tom Bain said he has heard other municipalities who have done the survey have found it beneficial.

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 19, 2019

Steven Wilder wants to expand their BIA to outsode of the municipality. And he is surprised that he has not heard the issue discussed at a meeting.
"I guess dialoge with the BIA will perhaps be beneficial."

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 19, 2019

The adminisstration of Lakeshore is continuing with funding plans for the Earth Walk Trail at the Atlas Tube Centre. But I believe they are waiting to approach CWATS Municipal Partnership Program.

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 19, 2019

Council will proceed to go into budgets.

— Kaitlynn Kenney (@kaitlynn_kenney) February 20, 2019