Ministry of Health Promotion

OntarioTrails Strategy

Ontario Trails StrategyPublished by the Ministry of Health PromotionPrinted by the Queen's Printer for OntarioProvince of Ontario, Toronto, Canada

© 2005, Queen's Printer for OntarioISBN 0-7794-8872-5

Version française disponible.

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he Ontario Trails Strategy is a long-term plan that establishes strategic directions forplanning, managing, promoting and using trails in Ontario. Developed in

collaboration with other ministries and a wide range of stakeholders in the community,the strategy supports continued cooperation among governments and the not-for-profitand private sectors as we work towards a shared vision for trails All stakeholders will beimportant partners in the success of the strategy.

Trails play an important role in building a healthier, more prosperous Ontario. Thisdocument provides the framework to guide future decision-making and will helpstrengthen Ontario’s trail system.

It was clear from the beginning that a trails strategy would be able to make a majorcontribution to ACTIVE2010, the government’s strategy to increase sport participationand levels of physical activity among Ontarians. Trails also support other governmentstrategies, including the Ontario Tourism Strategy, the plan for Strong RuralCommunities, the Provincial Policy Statement, the Northern Prosperity Plan, the HealthyWeights Strategy and the Greenbelt Plan.

Thank you to the many stakeholders and other ministries that contributed generouslythroughout the development of this Ontario Trails Strategy.

Honourable Jim WatsonMinister

A Message from the Minister of Health Promotion

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n July 2003, the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation established an Inter-ministerialWorking Group on Trails, to help shape the process for developing an Ontario

Trails Strategy.In December 2004, a Minister’s Advisory Committee (refer to the Appendix for a list of

member organizations) was established to support the development of the strategy. Thecommittee involved stakeholder organizations representing trail groups, environmental andheritage organizations, property owners, the tourism industry, Aboriginal communities andmunicipalities.

Over the winter of 2005, stakeholders with special expertise attended workshops toprovide input on the following trail-related topics:

> Active living and other health benefits> Environmental and heritage impacts and opportunities> Safety and road / highway rights-of-way> Landowner concerns> Multi-use / four-season use> Tourism potential> Insurance> Economic sustainability> Promoting access to all Ontarians

Following the workshops, the ministry held regional consultations to elicit communityfeedback on the information received through the issue-specific workshops. Consultationswere held in Chatham, Woodstock, St. Catharines, Hanover, Peterborough, Kingston,Ottawa, Barrie, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Timmins, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Toronto.

The ministry also received many written briefs, e-mail comments and researchdocuments that were taken into account in developing the strategy.

Information about the strategy was posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registryas required under The Environmental Bill of Rights Act. Feedback from the stakeholderworkshops and regional consultations was posted on the Ministry of Tourism andRecreation’s website, to ensure full disclosure and transparency.

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Foreword

Introduction 6

Trails in Ontario 6

Why are good trails important? 7

Challenges 9

Recent trends affecting trails in Ontario 9

Challenges facing the trails community 9

Vision, Goals and Values 11

Framework for Action 12

Strategic directions 12

Core values 12

Improving collaboration among stakeholders 12

Enhancing the sustainability of Ontario’s trails 14

Enhancing the trail experience 16

Educating Ontarians about trails 18

Fostering better health and a strong economy through trails 20

A shared responsibility 22

Afterword 23

Appendix 24

Table of Contents

Trails in Ontario

ntario’s rich and varied landscape

is criss-crossed by over 64,000kilometres of trails.

Trails can be:> footpaths with natural surfaces > multi-use tracks with manufactured

surfaces > on-road bicycle routes > walkways, boardwalks and sidewalks> utility corridors or former rail lines > forestry and mining access roads

designated as trails> waterways and portage routes.

Walkers, hikers, joggers, cyclists, inlineskaters, horseback riders, cross-countryskiers, mountain bikers, snowshoers,dogsledders and users of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, 4x4s, and dirt bikes enjoyland-based trails. Water trailways are usedby canoeists, kayakers, etc.

Some trails are intended for onepurpose only. The Bruce Trail, for example,is a public footpath with off-road sectionsclosed to all vehicles. Other trails areintended to be used in a variety of ways.The Trans-Canada Trail is designed toaccommodate five core activities:hiking/walking, biking, horseback riding,cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

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According to theOntario Trails Council,Ontario has over64,000 km of trailsused for:

> walking, hiking,cycling, horsebackriding,snowmobiling, all-terrain vehicle use,dogsledding, trailbiking, birdwatching, and othernatured-basedactivities.

Introduction

Why are good trails important?

Trails play a vital role in our well-being.

Better Health. Trails support an activelifestyle that improves health. Physicalactivity helps prevent heart disease,diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, coloncancer and depression1. An increase inphysical activity can save millions in healthcare spending. Physical activity alsoreduces stress and improves mental health.

Trails are exceptionally well suited tohelping Ontarians become more physicallyactive. Many are designed for therecreational activities Ontarians most enjoy,including walking, cycling and jogging. Theyare readily accessible to most Ontarians andinexpensive to use. They are found in avariety of attractive settings and can providemoderate activity or challenging outdooradventure. They can provide physicalactivity for the widest range of people,including persons with disabilities, childrenand youth, the elderly and others who areknown to be less physically active.

Strong People, Strong Economy.

Trails attract tourists to Ontariocommunities. Tourism creates jobs and putsmoney into local economies. Many trailusers buy goods such as snowmobiles,mountain bicycles, equestrian equipmentand hiking boots. Canadians are takingshorter vacations, closer to home.2 Vacation

dollars are being spent on local restaurants,accommodations, retail purchases and daytrips. The Ontario Trails Council estimatesthat trails contribute at least $2 billion ayear to the provincial economy.

Trails increase property values. A homenear a trail can offer a pleasing view,quieter streets, recreational opportunitiesand a chance to get in touch with nature.Studies find that properties located neartrails generally sell for five to thirty twopercent more than those farther away.3

Strong Communities. Trails strengthenthe social fabric. Volunteering is onemeasure of the vitality of a society. Peopleworking together, giving their time freely,and sharing in socially valuable, meaningfulactivities – these are practices that createstrong communities.

Ontario’s trail system was largely builtby volunteers, such as the members of trailclubs and other not-for-profit organizations.Trails continue to provide abundantopportunities for volunteering in thecommunity.

Ontario’s trail system also depends onthe generosity of private property owners.Many trails cross private lands, with accessfreely given by property owners who arewilling to share their property with trailusers. Some property owners have evendonated their land to trail organizations.

According to theOntario Trails Council:

> 525,000 people usesnowmobile andATV trails.

> 800,000 people usehiking trails.

> According to theACTIVE2010strategy, 52 per centof Ontarians areinsufficiently activeto benefit theirhealth.

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1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centre for ChronicDisease Prevention and Health Promotion, 1996. Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the U.S. Surgeon General, AtlantaGeorgia, U.S.2 Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, 2004. Travel Intention Survey.3 Dunbar, Peter G. 1999. The Economic Impact of the Georgian Trail on the Town of Collingwood, Collingwood, Ontario.

Trail construction and maintenancebuilds and solidifies partnerships amongcommunity groups, businesses, propertyowners, local government, communityresidents and trail club members. Theprovince as a whole is also strengthened aspeople of all income brackets, all agegroups and all cultures travel throughoutOntario for trail-based recreationalexperiences.

Conserving and Appreciating the

Environment. Trails lead users through theincredibly varied landscapes to be found inOntario. They lead people to diverse plantand animal habitats like wetlands andforests, and historic places like old mills,canal locks or the homes of famousCanadians. Trail guides and interpretivesignage can identify the special featuresalong a trail and enhance our appreciationof our natural and cultural heritage.

Trails often cross lands which areenvironmentally sensitive in many ways.By leading users along well-worn paths,trails keep users away from more sensitive

features that might not be able towithstand traffic. Well-developed trailsprovide environmental buffers, such asboardwalks and bridges, that protectdelicate wetlands while allowing users toexperience varied plant and animal wildlife.

Trails in Northern Ontario often giveusers access to remote wilderness areas.Indeed, the chance to experiencewilderness is one major appeal of remotetourism in the north. Consequently, theneed to preserve wilderness is wellunderstood by northern trail stakeholders.

Trails provide meaningful and satisfyingoutdoor experiences for many users.These experiences reaffirm a sense ofconnection with the natural environmentand provide opportunities for anappreciation of Ontario’s natural heritage.With a trails system that traverses many ofOntario’s natural regions, trails play animportant role in supporting environmentaleducation and building a publiccommitment to environmentalconservation.

> In 2000, over one-half of childrenaged 5 to 17 did not meetrecommendedlevels of physicalactivity.4

> The annualeconomic burden of physicalinactivity in Ontariois $1.8 billion.5

> ACTIVE2010recommends thatall adult Ontarianswalk a minimum of30 minutes daily orparticipate in someother equivalentactivity.

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4 Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 2001. Physical Activity Monitor.5 Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, Queen’s University, 2001. The Economic Cost Associated with Physical Inactivity and Obesity in Ontario.

Recent trends affecting trails

in Ontario

There is evidence of serious issues facingOntario’s trails community:> Stakeholders report that the cost of

liability insurance for trail organizationsis becoming prohibitive.

> Although ownership of all-terrainvehicles (ATVs) in Ontario hasincreased, the development of ATVtrails has not kept pace with the growthin demand. With few designated ATVtrails, many ATV users frequent trailsthat are not suitable for their vehicles.

> Fifty-two per cent of Ontarians are stillnot active enough to realize optimumhealth benefits.6

> A 2001 study found that 28 per cent ofOntarians cited lack of pleasant placesto walk and/or bicycle as a barrier toparticipation in physical activity 7.

> While Ontario’s trails have traditionallybeen developed independently, trailorganizations increasingly recognizethat they must work together to usetheir resources more efficiently, makethe most of their investment in trailsand effectively educate the public andtrail users.

> There are increasing pressures on thenatural and cultural heritage features oftrails because of growing populationdensities around the province andincreasing numbers of off-road vehicles,many of which are used off-trail as well.

Challenges facing the trails

community

During the Ontario Trails Strategyconsultation process, stakeholders raisedthe following topics as challenges facingthe trails community:

> Coordination of trail groups. Trailstakeholders recognize the need towork together to effectively establish aprovince-wide code of trail conduct,minimum trail standards, better ways ofsharing knowledge and coordinated trailmarketing.

> Need for easily accessible

information. A “one window” accesspoint is required to ensure users,property owners and organizations caneasily locate information on trail location,types of trails, trail management, traildevelopment and approval processes.

> Cost of liability insurance. The cost ofliability insurance threatens the long-term viability of trail organizations.Concerns about liability discouragemany public and private propertyowners from permitting trails acrosstheir properties.

> Hike Ontario’sdatabase lists 25hiking clubs with13,000 members(Hike Ontario).

> The OntarioFederation ofSnowmobile Clubssupports 248community-basedsnowmobile clubs,and thousands ofvolunteers thatgroom andmaintain 41,290 kmof snowmobiletrails across landgenerously madeavailable by 15,902property owners.

Challenges

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6 Ministry of Health Promotion, 2005. ACTIVE2010 strategy.7 Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 2001. Physical Activity Monitor.

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> More than 100,000snowmobiles accessthe OntarioFederation ofSnowmobile Clubs’trail network eachseason.8

The OntarioFederation of AllTerrain Vehicle Clubshas 10 clubs, 6chapters and over2,100 km of mappedtrails across Ontario.9

8 Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs July 2005. www.ofsc.on.ca.9 The Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs July 2005.

> Lack of funding and land resources.

The sustainability of trails is uncertaindue to rising costs (e.g. infrastructure,maintenance and insurance), theinsecurity of funding sources andconcerns about long-term access toprivate lands.

> Inadequate trail access for off-road

vehicles. Off-road vehicle operatorswant access to a network of suitabletrails around the province. However,mechanisms are lacking for resolvingconflicts between motorized and non-motorized users over incompatible usesof trails, as well as issues associatedwith the use of surrounding lands.

> Access to land. Many property owners,including owners of agricultural andother rural operations, hesitate to giveaccess to property because of concernsrelated to liability, trespassing, damageto property, interference withagricultural operations, noise pollution,and the introduction of biohazards andinvasive species.

> Need for education. Ontarians need tobe aware of the health and economicbenefits of trails and ways of using trailsthat respect property owners andprotect the environment. They need tounderstand the potential adverseimpacts users might have on activitiesnear the trail including agricultural,forestry, trapping, angling, hunting andfish and wildlife harvesting operations.Education on protecting ecosystemsand natural and cultural heritagefeatures through environmentallysensitive trail practices is also needed.

> Review of public policy. Manyprovincial statutes and areas of publicpolicy need to be reviewed with respectto their impacts on trails. Aboriginalcommunities need to be consultedwhen trails are planned through landsidentified as traditional areas forhunting, trapping and other uses.

> Increase trail use. Trail organizationsare looking for ways to increase anddiversify the use of trails with anemphasis on attracting children andyouth, women, new Canadians, low-income groups and persons withdisabilities by making opportunitiesaccessible to and inclusive of a broaderspectrum of the population.

> Need for improved trail safety.

In order to appeal to some user groupsit will be necessary to adopt measuresto increase trail safety and improve theenforcement of trail use standards.

> Challenges for Northern Ontario.

Northern Ontario trail stakeholders faceadded challenges due to enormousdistances, rugged topography, andsmaller populations from which to drawvolunteers.

> Abandoned rail corridors. Abandonedrail corridors, while serving as apotential land base for trails acrossOntario, can present challenges due tothe cost of infrastructure maintenance,fencing etc. and impacts on adjacentproperty owners.

world-class system of diversified

trails, planned and used in an

environmentally responsible manner,

that enhances the health and prosperity

of all Ontarians.

> A world-class system

The trails community will worktogether effectively.

> Diversified trails across Ontario

Trails in all parts of Ontario will meetthe needs of varied users.

> Environmentally responsible

Trails will be planned and used in amanner that preserves and appreciatesthe environment.

> Enhanced quality of life

Trail use will help improve the healthand prosperity of all Ontarians.

This means

> Ontario will have a sustainable networkof urban, rural and wilderness trails thatare safe and accessible.

> Trail planning and usage will supportenvironmental protection and contributeto the responsible use and appreciationof natural and cultural heritage resources.

> Trail-based recreation will contribute toan active lifestyle for Ontarians.

> Trails tourism will boost the economicprosperity of communities.

> The Ontario government will be activelyengaged with trail stakeholders,providing coordination and strategicleadership to ensure the vitality of trailsin Ontario.

> Trail users will respect property ownersand adjacent land uses including thoseof the agricultural sector, resourceindustries, remote tourism operatorsand Aboriginal communities.

Vision, Goals and Values

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In the future . . .

> Studies of trailusers find that 70 to85 per cent of trailusers live within 40km of the trail.10

> An important by-product of trails isimproved self-image and socialrelationships,reduced crimes, alivelier communityatmosphere and alifestyle whichencourages youngpeople to find theirentertainment inhealthier and morewholesome ways.11

10 PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 2004.11 Active Living Go For Green, 1996. Developing Communities for Active Transportation: The Active Living and EnvironmentProgram

Strategic directions

he Ontario Trails Strategy envisions acoordinated approach to meeting the

challenges facing the trails community.Through a collaborative approach within acommon framework, stakeholders canachieve greater successes.

The strategy focuses on key strategicdirections, designed to respond to thechallenges facing the community. It requiresthe active involvement of all stakeholders.

The provincial government can play anenabling role and show leadership in variousareas.

The commitment of local government,trail organizations at all levels, and thecorporate sector will determine thestrategy’s ultimate success.

There are five strategic directions thatcomprise the Ontario Trails Strategy:

> Improving collaboration amongstakeholders

> Enhancing the sustainability of Ontario’s trails

> Enhancing the trail experience

> Educating Ontarians about trails

> Fostering better health and a strongeconomy through trails.

Core values

In addition to these strategic directions,trail stakeholders identified a number ofshared, core values to guide all futureefforts relating to trails:

> Respecting private and public lands,including agricultural lands, Crown landsand the traditional land-use areas ofAboriginal communities

> Protecting, conserving and appreciatingthe environment and cultural andnatural heritage features

> Providing a variety of trail opportunitiesin keeping with the diverse nature ofOntario’s population

> Valuing regional differences andsupporting local decision-making

> Adopting good planning principles andapproaches.

Improving collaboration among

stakeholders

Ontario’s trail clubs and organizations havebuilt a vast network of excellent trails,offering outstanding experiences. Federal,provincial and municipal governments haveoften supported or partnered in traildevelopment.

Today, as Ontario’s trail systemmatures, stakeholders are finding that thechallenges they face require them to work together. Trail organizations need todevelop common standards to guide thedevelopment and use of trails. The trailsystem as a whole must evolve to meet theparticular needs of new users. Trailorganizations want more effective tools andbetter ways of distributing information tomore Ontarians.

These challenges require coordinationat all levels. Enhanced cooperation betweenfederal, provincial and local governments,stronger linkages between provincialministries and trail organizations, andbroader collaboration among trailorganizations and local and regional levels ofgovernment will help to address thechallenges of the trails community.

> A study of theGeorgian Trailfound thatapproximately 36 per cent of userslive within 20minutes of thetrail.12

Framework for Action

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12 Dunbar, Peter G. 1999. The Economic Impact of the Georgian Trail on the Town of Collingwood, Collingwood, Ontario

Through identifying gaps, overlaps andopportunities in the system, it will bepossible to invest in future traildevelopment in a more strategic way.

This plan will enhance the ability of trail

stakeholders to work together through

several strategies:

> Improving collaboration amongstakeholders

> Rationalizing trails

Improving collaboration among stakeholders

GOAL

New coordinating mechanisms toimprove trail stakeholders’ ability towork together.

STRATEGIES

• Form an Ontario trails coordinatingcommittee, representing public, not-for-profit, Aboriginal and private-sector trailstakeholders to increase collaboration

• Encourage the development of aframework for collaboration among trailcoordinating bodies at the regional andlocal levels

• Review the impact of new provincialpolicies and programs on trails.

Rationalizing trails

GOAL

A coherent, rational trail system forOntario.

STRATEGIES

• Develop an Ontario Trails Systemframework to guide the developmentof new trails and management ofexisting trails to meet the diverseneeds of Ontarians

• Seek opportunities to develop aframework for trail categories, alloweduses, amenities, access etc.

• Nurture the development of standardsto guide trail development andmanagement, giving Ontarians accessto high quality, diversified trailexperiences.

GOAL

New coordinatingmechanisms toimprove trailstakeholders’ ability towork together.

GOAL

A coherent, rationaltrail system forOntario.

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Enhancing the sustainability of

Ontario’s trails

The economic sustainability of Ontario’s trailsystem is not guaranteed.

High costs threaten to undermine theviability of clubs and the trails they manage.

Funding is an issue for many trail groups.Financial support is received from thegovernment, charitable foundations, user andmembership fees, merchandise sales andOntario businesses. Government funding hastraditionally consisted of project-based, one-time grants. Innovative funding modelsshould be explored to provide trailorganizations with the certainty required tosustain existing trails and develop new trailswithin the province.

Trail clubs rely on volunteers to plan,build, maintain, operate and promote trails.The survival of the trail system depends on athriving volunteer base. Trail organizationsneed to explore new approaches to recruitand recognize their volunteers and developways to prevent volunteer “burn-out”.

Private property owners are anothergroup whose generosity underpins Ontario’strail system. Much of the land base for trailsis privately owned, particularly in southernand central Ontario. Trail clubs have access to

the land through agreements with propertyowners.

Many stakeholders feel it is time to lookfor ways of introducing more stability into trailagreements that balance the needs of trailorganizations and private property owners.

Many stakeholders consider provincialparks and Crown lands to be ideal settingsfor trails, since they are publicly owned, andare governed by policies which respectrecreational uses. Ideally, they say, publicproperties, such as utility and transportationcorridors, should be retained in public handsfor trail use, and private properties should beacquired, where possible.

This strategy will seek to ensure the

sustainability of Ontario’s trails through

a variety of strategies:

> Removing roadblocks to sustainability> Stabilizing resources for trail

organizations> Stabilizing trail routes.

Removing roadblocks to sustainability

GOAL

Support for the development of anenvironment that is conducive to thedevelopment and operation of trails.

STRATEGIES

• Review legislation to determinewhether opportunities exist to bettersupport the trail environment

• Review best practices and riskmanagement tools related to liabilityissues

• Examine education and awarenessopportunities that address liability andinsurance matters.

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GOAL

Support for thedevelopment of anenvironment that isconducive to thedevelopment andoperation of trails.

Stabilizing resources for trailorganizations

GOAL

A diversified, enlarged and stablefinancial and volunteer base for trails.

STRATEGIES

• Have regard for the Ontario TrailsStrategy in all government fundingdecisions on trails

• Explore innovative funding andinvestment models for the support oftrails and trail-related organizations

• Explore opportunities to increase privatesupport of trails, working with themanufacturing and tourism industries

• Plan innovative volunteer programs anddevelop new strategies for recruiting,training, supervising, motivating andrecognizing volunteers

• Develop volunteer opportunities forwomen, new Canadians, youth andpeople with disabilities.

Stabilizing trail routes

GOAL

A toolkit of reliable methods forstabilizing trail rights-of-way.

STRATEGIES

• Support long-term planning to identifyproperties needed for future trails

• Review potential incentives for privateproperty owners to allow the use of theirproperties for trails

• Facilitate Internet-based access toinformation on best practices in buildinglong-term relationships with propertyowners

• Explore the feasibility of usingeasements to stabilize trail rights-of-way

• Encourage the long-term retention ofutility and transportation corridors onpublic lands, in public jurisdiction.

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GOAL

A diversified, enlargedand stable financialand volunteer base fortrails.

GOAL

A toolkit of reliablemethods forstabilizing trail rights-of-way.

Enhancing the trail experience

Trail use subjects the trail system in Ontarioto a variety of stresses.

While some trails are intended for onetype of use (e.g. hiking) or seasonal use (e.g.snowmobiling), others are intended for manydifferent uses. Conflicts can arise fromcompetition among trail users, when, forexample, ATVs use trails intended forsnowmobiles. Conflicts detract from theenjoyment of the trail experience.

Trail use and off trail use can havesignificant environmental impacts. Bothmotorized and non-motorized uses candegrade sensitive landscapes and disruptplant and animal habitats. Motorized usescan be particularly disruptive. The equipmentis capable of having a significant, longerterm, cumulative impact on sensitive areassuch as creeks, wetlands and the habitats ofendangered species. Off-road vehiclesreportedly can produce excessive levels ofnoise and emissions.

Stresses caused by trail users canalienate property owners who havepermitted trails on their properties.Individuals who use trails inappropriately canbe seen as nuisances or can damageagricultural operations.

The desire of trail operators to opentrails to non-traditional users createschallenges for trail design. Increased use bywomen and children may require moreattention to personal safety concerns, whileincreased use by persons with disabilitiesmay require accommodations in trail design.

Many trail organizations feel they aredealing with situations that call for tougherenforcement. They have indicated thatrevised minimum age requirements, safety

equipment standards, mandatory drivereducation programs, increased trail patrolsand stiffer penalties for inappropriatebehaviours would help address many of theissues.

This plan will enhance the trail

experience through a variety of

strategies:

> Accommodating multiple uses> Managing user impacts > Improving accessibility and safety

Accommodating multiple uses

GOAL

The needs of varied users are managed,

and met by a comprehensive system of

single-use, multiple-use, single-season and

four-season trails.

STRATEGIES

• Support the development of aframework, tools and strategies foraddressing the needs of multiple users,resolving the conflicts that arise amongcompeting uses and promoting acomprehensive system of trails thatmeets the needs of varied users

• Undertake a study of needs and issuesrelated to the recreational use of off-road vehicles

• Develop a province-wide code for theresponsible use of trails that respectsother users, property owners andadjacent land uses, including those ofthe agricultural sector, resourceindustries and Aboriginal communities

• Enhance tools and strategies forenforcement.

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GOAL

The needs of variedusers are managed,and met by acomprehensivesystem of single-use,multiple-use, single-season and four-season trails.

Managing user impacts

GOAL

Trail clubs help protect ecosystems andnatural and cultural heritage featuresfrom adverse user impacts, and maintainclose relationships with property ownersto resolve issues arising from trail use.

STRATEGIES

• Research and share best practices forenvironmental protection and natural andcultural heritage preservation on trails

• Facilitate Internet access to informationon best practices in environmental andnatural and cultural heritage conservation

• Facilitate Internet access to informationon best practices in property ownersrelations

• Encourage the development of a trailplanning process that considers social,environmental, cultural, economic andcumulative impacts of trail use

• Recognize the values of non-trail usersof the landscape (e.g. agriculture,forestry, trapping, and remote tourism) inthe planning process.

Improving accessibility and safety

GOAL

Ontario trails welcome non-traditionalusers and accommodate special needssafely.

STRATEGIES

• Nurture the development of an overallapproach to trail design that accommodates the widest range ofuser abilities

• Facilitate Internet access to informationon best practices in trail useraccommodations and safety

• Encourage communities to inventorytrails and identify gaps in provision fornon-traditional users

• Encourage outreach initiatives to targetnon-traditional users.

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GOAL

Trail clubs help protectecosystems andnatural and culturalheritage features fromadverse user impacts,and maintain closerelationships withproperty owners toresolve issues arisingfrom trail use.

GOAL

Ontario trails welcomenon-traditional usersand accommodatespecial needs safely.

Educating Ontarians

about trails

Education is the key to the future of trails inOntario.

Ontarians need to learn about the healthand economic benefits of trails. They shouldlearn to use trails in ways that respect theproperty owner, protect the environment andpreserve appealing trails for the future. Thepublic should be educated about diverseecosystems and become aware of thesignificant natural and cultural heritagefeatures that can be appreciated through trailuse. Educating young people about trails andgiving them trail experiences will build anetwork of trail stewards for the future.

People want to be able to find trails thatmeet their individual interests. Ontarians wantready access to information about traillocation, types of activities permitted, type ofterrain, level of difficulty, special facilities,equipment needs, parking, fees and otherpractical matters.

Trail design and management practicesare constantly evolving. At the same time,most trail planning, fundraising, constructionand maintenance is undertaken by volunteers.Trail organizations and their volunteers needto access best practices in trail design,management and safety.

A coordinated web-based approach couldprovide trail users with easily accessibleinformation. It could also give stakeholders anenormously increased capacity to share andgain access to the information they need toplay their part in managing Ontario’s trailsystem.

This plan will aim to educate Ontarians

about trails through a variety of

strategies:

> Developing a Trails Education Plan> Providing easy access to information

about trails> Providing information to trail

organizations

Developing a Trails Education Plan

GOAL

Ontarians understand the benefits oftrails and know how to use themproperly and safely.

STRATEGIES

• Develop a Trails Education Planincorporating the health and economicbenefits of trails, the diversity of trailtypes, property owners’ rights and theresponsible use of trails on public andprivate lands

• Focus trails education on infrequentusers including women, youth, newCanadians and people with disabilities

• Promote widely an Ontario code for theresponsible use of trails

• Develop a framework for advancingenvironmental education andinterpreting natural and cultural heritagefeatures along trails.

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GOAL

Ontarians understandthe benefits of trailsand know how to usethem properly andsafely.

Providing easy access to informationabout trails

GOAL

Internet-based, one-window trail useraccess to maps and information abouttrails in Ontario.

STRATEGIES

• Establish a website to provide one-window access to trails informationand linkages to websites

• Include trails in the Land InformationOntario electronic database andmapping system

• Give potential trail users web-basedaccess to information about, and mapsof, all rated trails in Ontario.

Providing information to trailorganizations

GOAL

Ready access to information on trailmanagement.

STRATEGIES

• Provide information and best practiceson trail planning, development andoperations through the Internet

• Encourage stronger linkages betweencollege and university research on trailsto the trails community

• Help develop training programs on trailplanning and operations.

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GOAL

Internet-based, one-window trail useraccess to maps andinformation abouttrails in Ontario.

GOAL

Ready access toinformation on trailmanagement.

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GOAL

Ontarians embrace theactive lifestyle choicesoffered by trails of alltypes.

GOAL

Ready access to trailsnear Ontarians’homes, schools andplaces of work.

Fostering better health and a

prosperous economy through

trails

With effective public education, trails willmake a real contribution to the health andeconomic prosperity of Ontarians.

Trails support an active, healthy lifestyle.Trails provide accessible, widely availableand low-cost opportunities to meet thephysical activity needs of most Ontarians.For this reason, the Ontario Trails Strategy islinked to the ACTIVE2010 initiative, and itstarget of raising the percentage of Ontarianswho engage in physical activity to 55 percent by 2010.

Trails-based tourism can provideeconomic benefits to many Ontariocommunities. It has proven particularlybeneficial to smaller, rural, northern andremote communities, especially duringwinter months. The “outdoors” isrecognized as a key defining feature forOntario in the domestic market and definingimages of Ontario for out-of-provincemarkets. Ontario trails can attract both

Ontarians and out-of-province visitors. Shorttrails tourism excursions with brief overnightstays are compatible with a trend towardtaking shorter, more frequent vacations overthe four seasons.

Building stronger trails tourism willrequire the identification and promotion ofspecific trails tourism opportunities aroundthe province. Furthermore, the trailscommunity would benefit from expandingits partnerships with the tourism industry atall levels – locally, regionally and province-wide. Industry, for its part, will need tounderstand the particular needs of the trailscommunity to preserve and maintain trailsproperly and to use trails appropriately.

This plan will use trails to foster better

health and a strong economy through a

variety of strategies:

> Promoting active, healthy lifestyles> Encouraging community design for

active living> Enhancing trails tourism.

Promoting active, healthy lifestyles

GOAL

Ontarians embrace the active lifestylechoices offered by trails of all types.

STRATEGIES

• Promote trails as low-cost, readilyavailable opportunities to adopt ahealthy, active lifestyle

• Undertake pilot projects to increasetrail use by children and youth, women,new Canadians, low-income groups,and persons with a disability

• Promote “active transportation” such as walking, hiking, cycling,jogging, inline skating and cross-country skiing

• Proclaim a “Trails Day” to becelebrated annually.

Encouraging community design foractive living

GOAL

Ready access to trails near Ontarians’homes, schools and places of work.

STRATEGIES

• Encourage municipalities to provide anadequate supply of trails for currentand future populations

• Encourage municipalities andconservation authorities to engage trailorganizations in their planningprocesses.

Enhancing trails tourism

GOAL

Trails are recognized as key economicand tourism assets for Ontariocommunities.

STRATEGIES

• Nurture the development of trailspromotion and marketing plans toexpand branding of trails and identifyconsistent messaging and signage

• Assist with the identification andassessment of market-specific, high-quality, day trip and overnight trailstourism opportunities

• Help build partnerships with local andregional tourism industries and identifyhospitality and service providers in trailliterature.

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GOAL

Trails are recognizedas key economic andtourism assets forOntario communities.

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Voluntary and not-for-profit organizations,businesses and alllevels of governmentshare theresponsibility forimplementing theOntario TrailsStrategy.

A shared responsibility

Voluntary and not-for-profit organizations,businesses and all levels of governmentshare the responsibility for implementingthe Ontario Trails Strategy.

About 600 local and regional trailclubs build, maintain and promote individualtrails or sections of longer trails. Thesemight be trail user organizations such ashiking or snowmobile clubs, or trailmanagement associations that areresponsible for managing public trails.

Many of Ontario’s 447 municipalitiesand 36 conservation authorities build andmaintain trails. Local governments set thecontext for trails through Official Plans andby-laws, enter into agreements with trailclubs, and play a role in policing andcontrolling trail use.

Businesses sponsor trails andcontribute money and in-kind resources totrail clubs. Businesses also support trails byselling users the goods and services theyneed to enjoy trails. Crucial trail partners arethe thousands of private property ownersaround the province who voluntarily agree toallow trails to cross their lands.

Provincial umbrella organizationsrepresent a diversity of trail interests. Theyencourage trail development, provide avoice for trail groups, promote the safe andresponsible use of trails, and act asresource centres for trail information.

Also at the provincial level, trail userorganizations work to advance theinterests of particular types of trails andtrail users. They offer their memberstraining, tools and information on bestpractices.

The provincial government role isone of leadership, as a coordinator,facilitator, educator and promoter workingin collaboration with the stakeholdercommunity.

Policy lead for trails has been assignedto the Ministry of Health Promotion tocoordinate the development of governmenttrails policy.

Other provincial governmentministries such as Agriculture and Food,Culture, Environment, Municipal Affairs andHousing, Natural Resources, NorthernDevelopment and Mines andTransportation oversee areas of provincialpolicy that have an impact on trails.

Some provincial governmentagencies also share the responsiblity fortrails. The Ontario Trillium Foundationfinancially supports trail development. TheOntario Heritage Trust (formerly OntarioHeritage Foundation) undertakes landsecurement and supports conservation/traileasements.

The Ontario Trails Strategy can onlysucceed through a collaborative approach,whereby all sector partners shareinformation and work together to achievethe shared vision for Ontario’s trails.

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Afterword

ntario is fortunate to have an

outstanding network of diverse andattractive trails.

The Ontario Trails Strategy is aframework designed to bring allstakeholders together to focus their effortsstrategically and take advantage of themany collaborative opportunities availableto enhance Ontario’s trail system.

As this strategy evolves, the provincialgovernment and the public, not-for-profit

and private sectors will continue tocollaborate on priorities, roles andresponsibilities, timeframes, and methodsto strengthen and enhance existing andfuture trails in Ontario.

The strategy is a living document.Progress will be monitored to ensure that itcontinues to evolve to meet the needs ofOntarians. To this end the strategy will bereviewed at the end of a five-year period toensure goals are being met.

O

As this strategyevolves, the provincialgovernment and thepublic, not-for-profitand private sectorswill continue tocollaborate onpriorities, roles andresponsibilities,timeframes, andmethods to strengthenand enhance existingand future trails inOntario.

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Chair: Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Recreation

Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability – Ontario

Bruce Trail Association

City of Thunder Bay – Community Services Department - Recreation Division

Conservation Ontario

Go For Green – Ontario

Green Tourism Association

Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council

Hike Ontario

Nature & Outdoor Tourism in Ontario

Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association

Ontario Equestrian Federation

Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs

Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters

Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs

Ontario Heritage Trust

Ontario Nature

Ontario Trails Council

Trans Canada Trail Ontario

Trent University - Trail Studies Unit

Waterfront Regeneration Trust

AppendixMinister’s Advisory Committee Members

Notes

Notes

Ministry of Health PromotionISBN 0-7794-8872-5

http://www.mhp.gov.on.ca/

www.active2010.ca