Rotary Greenway Trail to Undergo Enhancements Including George and Hilliard Intersection

The City of Peterborough has an upcoming project to upgrade a section of the Rotary Greenway Trail between Bethune and Hilliard Streets including improvements to the intersection at George and Hilliard Streets. 

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The project, which is being completed with support from the Federal Active Transportation Fund, is being designed to enhance the active transportation network. 

Residents are invited to view the project scope and plans, additional project information and resources, and submit questions and feedback through the interactive features on the City’s community engagement hub at connectptbo.ca/rotary-trail-improvements.

The general scope of the project is to: 

• Slightly realign the southbound approach of George Street towards Hilliard Street. 

• Implement a signalized intersection at the George Street and Hilliard Street intersection to enable trail users to cross the intersection with dedicated crossings. 

• Improve accessibility of the intersection, including improvements to the Rotary Trail approaches to the intersection. 

• Implement new trail lighting along the Rotary Trail between Bethune Street and Hilliard Street. 

• Implement new rest areas, benches, pavement markings, and signage along the Rotary Trail between Bethune Street and Hilliard Street. 

The Rotary Greenway Trail lighting implementation between Bethune Street and Hilliard Street will improve the trail for users of all ages and abilities, making the trail a higher functioning and more efficient key north-south crosstown route. The lighting implementation will improve the key trail links between downtown, surrounding neighbourhoods, secondary schools and Trent University. Also included in this project will be trail pavement markings and additional signage on the trail throughout the project area. 

With the information collected through the Connect Peterborough question engagement tool, the project team will review and consider all feedback and implement changes to the project plans where feasible. The feedback period will close on Aug. 31. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025. 

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Trent Valley Archives Offering New Walking Tour Through Jackson Park

Trent Valley Archives (TVA) is offering a new hour and a half walking tour through Peterborough’s Jackson Park on Thursday, June 15.

photo courtesy of trent valley archives.

Jackson Park began as an industrial site before it became a public park in the 1890’s. Later the site of an amusement park and a spot to show outdoor films, the park then became a camp for children with alternative needs in the 1960’s when the City took over the park.

Led by noted historian Karen Carter-Edwards, the tour will explore the fascinating history of this wonderful Peterborough landmark. Participants can discover where the gamblers den, Devil’s gap and famous beach were located.

The tour meets in the upper parking lot through the main gates off Monaghan Road and will commence at 2 p.m.. It will run rain or shine, so TVA asks that participants dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.

The cost is $20 per person and registration/payment in advance is required. Tickets are available on the website by reserving with Heather at 705-745-4404, or by email.

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Jackson Creek Trail Closed For Construction and Resurfacing

Jackson Creek Trail/Trans Canada Trail is closed for construction and resurfacing and everyone is urged not to use it during this time announced by Otonabee Conservation.

File Photo.

The closure extends from Ackison Road in Selwyn Township in the west to the concrete bridge at the entrance to Jackson Park, in the City of Peterborough in the east.

Signs, detour maps and barricades are in place during its closure no access to the trail at this time. You can view the Jackson Creek Trail Closures and Detours Map online.

Large equipment is moving along the entire length of the trail and will include bridge deck and railing replacements and resurfacing the trail for the week of Nov. 14.

Photo courtesy of Otonobee Conservation.

Detours are in place with alternate routes using local roads, sidewalks, and multi-use trails that extend from Ackison Road in Selwyn Township, to Parkhill Road West and Monaghan Road in the City of Peterborough.

The revitalization of Jackson Creek Trail has been made possible with a $523,917 investment from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF), with additional funding of over $60,000 from Trans Canada Trail.

The community has also raised over $40,000 in donations to revitalize the Jackson Creek Trail. However, $25,000 must still be raised to ensure benches, educational signage, trail markers and accessible wayfinding signs can be designed and installed once the trail bed is repaired and re-opens this December. Those wishing to donate can go online.

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Trans Canada Trail Contributes $61,500 to the Revitalization of The Jackson Creek Trail

The Trans Canada Trail is contributing $58,500 towards the rehabilitation and revitalization of the Jackson Creek Trail and an additional $3,000 for signage enhancements announced Tuesday.

File photo.

Funding for the revitalization of the trail includes addressing points of erosion, installing culverts, regrading slopes, enhancing bridges, resurfacing of the length of the trail and the addition of benches and educational signage.

Trail revitalization is funded in part by a grant from Trans Canada Trail to enhance our local section of Canada’s national trail, and a $523,917 investment from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF).

The community has also raised over $20,000 in donations through the Your Metres Matter campaign for revitalizing the Jackson Creek Trail.

“Trans Canada Trail is proud to support the revitalization of the Jackson Creek Trail, and we celebrate Otonabee Conservation’s dedication to expanding and improving its trails, in order to make them a welcoming place for all community members and visitors,” says Eleanor McMahon, president of Trans Canada Trail. “The Trans Canada Trail would not be what it is without the commitment of our local partners. National in scope and local in execution, Trans Canada Trail collaborates with provincial and territorial partners and over 500 local trail operators across the country, such as Otonabee Conservation, who are instrumental in the Trail’s past, current and future development.”

The Trans Canada Trail is the world’s longest network of multi-use recreational trails, stretching more than 28,000 kilometres across every province and territory. The Jackson Creek Trail makes up 4.5 k.m. of the Trans Canada Trail, extending from Ackison Road in Selwyn Township to the concrete bridge at the entrance to Jackson Park in the City of Peterborough.

The Jackson Creek Trail is currently closed for construction and will re-open Dec. 16, with the possibility for an earlier opening dependant on weather.

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Local Philanthropists Leading Two Projects To Improve And Expand City of Peterborough Trail Network

Scott Wood, a local entrepreneur and owner of the Ashburnham Ale House, has initiated a project to provide lighting along the Rotary Greenway Trail between Hunter Street and Douro Street. This trail is unlit, and many people use this section at night. 

“As someone who loves to walk and cycle, I think it’s great to see so many people using the trails,” Wood says. “Lighting improves their safety and extends the time that people feel safe using the trails. I am excited to be leading this project.”

Wood and the Village (East City) BIA are kickstarting the project by contributing about half of the $50,000 cost of the project. They are hoping that others will donate to round out the project needs. Tax receipts are available for donations made to this project, which can be made online on the City of Peterborough website.  

Photo courtesy City of Peterborough

In addition, Haig Kelly and Barron Cowan are funding construction of a new trail through Roper Park in Peterborough’s West End. A formal connection between Roper Drive and Firwood Drive will allow people to get from one neighbourhood to the other more easily.

The trail will also connect to Parkhill Road near the access to the TransCanada Trail, the closest trail for people living in these neighbourhoods. The trail will be paved so that it can be maintained in the winter, knowing that neighbourhood and trail connections are used year-round.

Many local trails have been built and supported by Kelly and Cowan, including the Parkway Trail, Crawford Trail, Rotary Greenway to Lakefield, BEL Rotary Bridgenorth Trail, TransCanada Trail from Lindsay to Peterborough and east to Hastings. The TransCanada Trail Foundation contributed 50% of the cost of the trail east of Peterborough. 

Construction on the new Roper Park Trail is expected to be underway soon, and the Rotary Greenway Trail lighting project will begin once the fundraising is completed.

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