The Town is creating a Trails Master Plan—and we want to hear from you!
Trails play an important role in our community. They offer places to walk, bike, and enjoy nature, and they support our health, wellbeing, and environment. As our town continues to grow, so does the need for better trail access and more ways to enjoy the outdoors.
This Master Plan is our chance to think ahead. It will help us figure out how to improve and expand our trail system to meet the needs of residents today and in the years to come. Once it’s finished, the plan will help guide decisions about trails for the next 10 years or more.
Whether you use the trails every day or just once in a while, your voice matters. By sharing your thoughts, you’ll help shape the future of these valued spaces in our town.
Opportunities to provide input:
- Resident survey. Complete the Trails Master Plan Survey HERE until May 27, 2025.
- Community group discussion sessions
FAQ’s
- What is a Trails Master Plan?
- A Trails Master Plan is a strategic document that sets out the short, medium and long-term priorities and policy direction for the Town’s trails system.
- The Master Plan is used to guide decisions about the acquisition, development, enhancement, and management of trails over a 10+ year period.
- While the plan may identify potential improvements and opportunities for some specific trails, the Master Plan is about setting system-wide priorities and does not provide detailed planning or design direction for individual trails.
- Why is a Trails Master Plan Needed?
- The Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan identified trails as a key component in Grand Bay-Westfield’s overall parks and recreation system.
- Trails provide important connections between amenities such as parks, recreational facilities, arts and culture destinations as well as facilitate active transportation routes throughout the Town and the region.
- Population growth has come with increased demand for improved access to trails and for a greater diversity of opportunities.
- The Trails Master Plan will set out a long-term vision for trail use in the community, along with clear goals and measurable objectives to guide the Town and partners in working towards the vision.
- What Is the scope of the Master Plan?
- The Master Plan is focused on Town owned and managed trails.
- Planning for, or within, Regional Parks, Provincial Parks, or private conservation lands is out of the scope for this Master Plan. However, the Master Plan will consider connectivity to, and opportunities provided by these other parks and trails systems.
- Is active transportation included in the Master Plan?
- All trails have the potential to support active transportation as well as recreation.
- The Trails Master Plan is focused on trails that are used primarily for recreation purposes.
