Feature Article January 22, 2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeA Trail for South Frontenac? Give it a chancebu Inie PlateniusThis is a wake-up call to residents of South Frontenac Township. Our council will soon have to decide whether or not to acquire the old K&P line for recreational use, and if we dont speak in favour of the acquisition, we could forever lose a trail that winds through some of our most beautiful countryside a treasure too precious to lightly toss away.
For generations we country folk have been blessed with easy access to unspoiled land. Either our families owned large acreages, or our good neighbours allowed us the freedom to roam theirs. But this idyllic state is changing fast as more and more tracts are sold for development. We may still have good neighbours, but their small plots are not suitable for rambling, and those people with larger acreages are more reluctant to open them to use. If we dont act now, our grandchildren will have no local access to the very experiences that make a rural upbringing so rewarding.
One of the loudest objections to acquisition that you will hear focuses on which groups will use the trail. The argument goes, I dont want the trail if (pick one or more of the following) snowmobiles, ATVs. horsesare going to use it. The question of use is an important one, but dont let it be a red herring that keeps you from thinking clearly about whether there should be a public trail at all. Working together, people of good will have come up with creative compromises to many such problems, and I have faith that they can do the same thing here.
Another common objection to acquisition centres on cost of development, maintenance and management. There will, of course, be costs to the municipality. Trail opponents cite one set of figures, proponents quite a different number. The actual costs probably lie somewhere in between. But dont let cost be another red herring. Its easy to be convinced that any expense is too much money to spend on the frill of public land.
Public land is not a frill. It is essential to the well-being of any community, and in our case there is good evidence that the trail, which would link us with Kingston to the south, the Rideau Trail to the east, and hopefully to the nationwide Transcanada Trail at the northern end, will be an economic boon to South Frontenac. Opposition estimates of maintenance and management costs fail to take one thing into account. There are many volunteer groups with experience in all areas of development and maintenance who are eager to work on a trail project.
South Frontenac is holding an information meeting on Monday, Jan. 27 for residents whose property is adjacent to the trail. If you fall into that category, go to the meeting. Hear the evidence, and make your decision based on the facts as you see them. And have faith that people working together can create a lasting gift to the future.
