DECISION NOTE FORKS OF THE CREDIT PROVINtIAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN MINOR AMENDMENT

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Lionel Gilbert
6 years ago
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1 DECSON NOTE FORKS OF THE CREDT PROVNtAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN MNOR AMENDMENT ssue: Proposed minor amendment to the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park Management Canada Plan to accommodate a connecting link of the Trans Trail. Back2round: Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is a 282 hectare Natual Environment class park established by regulation under the Provincial Parks Act in Located about 18 kilometres southeast of the Town of Orangeville the park has limited development with one centrl parking lot providing access to a system of hikipg trails. The Forks of the Credit Provicial Park Management Plan was approved in' The Forks is par of the Niagara Escarment Parks and Open Space System. Two trails in the vicinity of Forks of the Credit Provincial n ely the Caledon Trail and the Elora to Cataract Trail have already been embraced as sections of the Tras Canada Trail. The provincial park is considered to be the optimum lqcation for a linkage between the two sections of the Trans Canada Trail. Existing park trls and an acquired closed portion of former railroad allowance would be utilized for 'the linkage. A minor park management plan amendment is required to approve the proposed trail linkage through Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. The intent would b for the shared-use trail to accommodate walking cross-countr skiing horseback riding and cycling. Walking and cross-country skiing are presently conforming uses in the provincial park. A minor plan amendment would be required to permit horseback riders and cyclists but only on the designated trail. The Town ofcaledon is a major parer in this project and has granted perission for the trail to cross municipal lands and utilize unopened road allowances abutting the park. The only proposed development associated with the trail lin:age is a bridge to span the Credit River at a former bridge site. The river itself is regulated as par of the park however no footings or cribbing will occur on park property. New bridge footings would be constrcted on abutting municipal lands with an adequate! set back from both existing ' footings and the river. The bridge would be designed to accommodate pedestrians horses and light maintenance vehicles. The bridge and any necessar trail upgrading will be financed through local contrbutions and through the Trans! Canada Trail fud. 1

2 The proposal has already been subject to some external pulic consultation by virte of the involvement of the Town of Caledon Grand River an Credit Valley Conseration Authorities Ontario Trail Riders Association Bruce Trail Association Ontaro Trails Council and Trans Canada Trail. Ontaro Parks sits on a Trail Linage Committee hosted by the local municipality. The proposed trail linkage has also been the subject of an academic project by a group of University of Guelph studens. A Caledon Tralway Day was held on June "to locally promote the Tras Canada Trail. All requirements under Exemption Order MNR-5912 Environmental Assessment: Provincial Parks Program will be met upon approval of ile minor plan amendment. A public notice will be posted by Ontaro Parks on site 45 d ys in advance of the formal linkage There will be no signficant environmental impact therefore a proposal notice is not required to be posted on the Envionmental Registr. Ministr Position: t is recommended that a minor amendment to the Forks oj the Credit Provincia Park Management Plan be approved to allow the Tr Canadai Trail linkage to go though the park approve an associated bridge crossing over the Credit River and to allow horseback riding and cycling to occur on the designated trail. i Prepared June by: Brian Huis Park Planning Specialist Southwestern Parks Zone Ontario Parks Tel: (519)

3 . APPROVAL STATEMENT am pleased to approve a minor amendment to the Fork of the Credit Provincial Park Management Plan as offcial policy for the management and development of this park. The amendment pertains to a Trans Canada lirail linkage through the park. Besides hiking and cross-country skiing horsebac riding and bicycling would be added as permitted us on the designated tril. The amendment reflects this Ministry's and Ontario Pa' intent to protect the cultural natural and recreational features of Forks of tb Credit Provincial Park and maintain high quality opportunities for outdoor recreation and heritage appreciation for both reidents of Ontario and visitors to ithe Prvince. Norm Richards Managing Director Ontario Parks Date

4 ). i ; Parking [f] ToJlel (vault privy) Forks of the Cred.t Provincial Park \.."ClJL1Q\JLQ - - -Trail --'" Trail Linkage "---".---- Conrour nt'" vallo Mtolf M ' s 100 a t ! !! 500 Me'es

5 . 1 ' The Site The Trail begins in the southwest at Elizbeth Street in Terra Cott. t ends on the north of thirty five kilometres (twenty-two miles) long. t i accessible where it crosses roads and from several short paths within newly developed residential areas. The trail cuts through nglewood east boundary of the Tow at Highway 9 j1jst east Palgrave. The trail is approately the vilages of Terra Cott Cheltenham Caledon East and Palgrave. TON O. CA8DON au AND aaeaeaton fl c A L E D 0 N R A L T R A L The Caledon Rail Trail ic Forks ofthe Credit Provincial Park

6 \ \ N e THE ELORA CA TRALW A PARTNERSHP FOR FUTURE GENERATONS The Elora Cawract Trail is owned by rhe Credit Valley and Grand River Conservation Authorities and is managed by (hem in cooperation with the Elora Ca(arac( Trailway Association. The goal is to create a greenway or linear park through which people can explore their environways while. at the same time:. menr in dilrenr encuraging the protection of natural and cultural herirage vaues. Acquisition of (he abandoned CP rail corridor and its development as a TrY have been made possible by the financial support of the Province of Onrario. The Grand Valley Conservation Founda tion. corporate and private donors. service clubs. user groups. and by the support of the local citizenry generally. A LNK BETWEEN TWO WATERSHEDS The Trail links tw wads (me Grad and (he Credit). urb and rural communities. woodlot and me valley and ridge. as well as three major park sy>[ems found at (he: Elora Gorge. Beod La and (he Forks of (h Credit a( Cataalong a sen ra( The Grand Valey Trail passes of (he Tr and (he Bruce Trl can be accese at the Forb of the Credit Provincial Park Th Tr ma be seen as a vehic linng ec economy 3. community. Weling Plac ho 01 th Welito Co AlM " Arc - near th Tril been Elor. an Fer. ;;... ' '."..'r.-. ' "" _._ L = - == -... ===--_.. --=-_.1 MA' PAUL G'AN' A.o JULA HOWEll S lllus'.atotis ELEANOR SMTH DESGN &. LAYOUT ART KLGOUR WRll OESGN 0199 EL CA... AC' aal ASS.CAn.... JULY U"" l ".. RECYC.ED ijieii e

Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve

- Do Not Remove i, '" i ' Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve I!.' Interim Management Statement Amendment 2001-001 Park Boundary Amendment Approved: r.in'r entral Zone, Ontario Parks PJ Date 2. ()/