Trail News
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Unveiling of a New Section of Trail in the Municipality of Meaford - June 25th, 2011
An official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held in Meaford on Saturday June 25th in Fred Raper Park, where the Tom Thomson Trail Head Kiosk is located. Local dignitaries, interested individuals and trail volunteers were on hand to see the ribbon cut. The ceremony recognized support from individuals, organizations and businesses. For example, the woodworking students and staff at Georgian Bay Secondary School constructed the Meaford kiosk and kilometer markers for the entire trail route. The Municipality of Meaford and County of Grey were thanked for their ongoing support. The following Grey Bruce businesses were also recognized: Canadian Base Operators, Land Forces Central Area Training Centre, Knight’s Home Hardware, Roebuck’s Family Campground, Zwart’s, Barfoot Contracting & Excavating Services, Home Depot – Owen Sound, and Shouldice Design Centre – Shallow Lake.
Following the ceremony hikers were able to try out the newly completed section of trail located on the 22 Side Road unopened road allowance between Grey Rd 112 (Range Road ) and the 11th Line.
The trail is being used primarily by hikers and mountain bikers. In order to accommodate the trail users, extensive switch back trails were built and a temporary footbridge was installed over Orchard Creek. In addition, 2 mini-kiosks were installed, along with 2 benches (fundraiser for TTT) at the east and west ends of the trail. Grey County installed a culvert at the eastern entrance to the trail, as an in-kind donation, allowing us to create an off-road parking area.
The trail co-coordinator for this section, Greg Brown, describes this section as one of the most scenic of the entire trail and expects it will be popular with local residents as well as tourists.
Upgrades to 24 Side Road Section of Trail near Owen Sound – Summer 2011
With funding support from the Municipality of Meaford and the City of Owen Sound a final upgrade to the 24 Side Road Section of Trail will be completed this summer. Last summer course gravel was applied to trail and this summer we will undertake the repair of a washed out section on the steep hill, then the application of stone dust will be completed to form a solid packed stone dust path. This section of trail runs from the corner of 28th Avenue East unopened road allowance, past the entrance to the Hibou Hiking Connector Trail, up the steep hill and out to Tom Thomson Lane where the Trail heads north “on-road” toward Leith.
Changes to Issuing of Tom Thomson Trail Charitable Receipts – Summer 2011
As a result of changes in funding, the Bruce Grey Trail Network (BGTN) has become the Bruce County Trail Network and is no longer able to provide charitable receipts for our group, since the Tom Thomson Trail is located completely within the County of Grey. It is with regret that we have had to terminate our relationship with the BGTN. Since our inception in February 2001, that organization has been a great support for us, as mentors, collaborative partners on grant applications, as well as issuers of our charitable receipts for any donations we received.
We are very pleased to announce that the City of Owen Sound and Municipality of Meaford have agreed to issue our charitable receipts. Now, instead of making a cheque payable to the Tom Thomson Trail, the donor would make the cheque out to either the City of Owen Sound or the Municipality of Meaford. On the Memo line of the cheque the donor would write Tom Thomson Trail.
Tom Thomson Trail (TTT) Upgraded with Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant & Community Donations - August 2010
As a result of a $35,000 Trillium Grant, a new 350 metre non-motorized, off-road section of trail was created. The new trail is located on the west side of 28th Ave East unopened road allowance. The new off-road trail was created to protect it from the wear and tear which results from use of the unopened road allowance by heavy farm machinery, 4X4s and other vehicles, especially during rainy periods.
In addition, much of the trail from the Malibu Hill area to the Tom Thomson Lane was upgraded with the application of new gravel and stone dust. The objective of the work was to develop a trail which would be accessible to a wider range of trail users, such as recreational cyclists and runners.
In addition to the Trillium Grant, community support from the City of Owen Sound, Municipality of Meaford, Barfoot Excavating & Contracting Ltd, and the TTT Metre of Trail Campaign, were critical to our ability to complete all the work we accomplished. Sincere thanks to all who supported us!!
Links
- Owen Sound Cycling Club
- Bruce County Trail Network
- Tom Thomson Memorial Gallery
- City of Owen Sound
- Meaford
- Holly Cottage B & B (Woodford)
- Ontario Trillium Foundation
- Grey County
