Trail blazing along Junction Creek

A four-year plan to connect trails along Junction Creek in Sudbury is ahead of schedule, city councillors were told Tuesday.

Franco Mariotti and former mayor David Courtemanche are co-chairs of the Connect the Creek Coalition, a coalition of groups dedicated to completing the 18-kilometre trail along the major waterway.

“Our vision is to make Greater Sudbury the most pedestrian friendly city in Ontario by 2015,” Mariott said.

In 2011, the group came up with a four-year plan to connect all the trails along the route, creating a single trail in the process. Courtemanche said they have made rapid progress, connecting 11 kilometres of trail in two years rather than four. The focus now is on completing the final seven kilometres.

In 2012, they connected trails from Arthur to Atlee streets in New Sudbury, as well as the area along St. Catharine’s Street. Courtemanche said the section of Junction Creek that runs along Martindale Road to Kelly Lake Road, involving 1.6 kilometres of trail, was one of the more challenging sections, but was still finished late last year.

“You want to ride a bike to work, you want to go shopping, you can do that on this trail,” he said.

This year, their aim is to complete sections near Douglas and Cross streets, as well as areas in the Flour Mill and New Sudbury. Major challenges in completing the effort, he said, are figuring out how to connect trails near major city roads, bridges and railways. Even when the trail is complete, Courtemanche said, they will have to figure those sections out.

“The trail is happening and we’re very confident that it will be completed.”

Councillors praised the effort, in particular the participation and support from Community Action Networks in each of the city’s wards.

Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac asked if efforts to create continuous walking and biking trails would continue after the Junction Creek project is complete. For example, could there one day be a trail from Elm Street in downtown Sudbury to Onaping Falls?

“Once you’ve connected the creek, will you will help us connect our city?” Dutrisac asked.

Courtemanche said once the creek trail system is in place, it can act as a major trunk that can connect outward to different areas of Greater Sudbury.

“When you’re ready, I’m ready,” Dutrisac responded.

Ward 7 Coun. Dave Kilgour said rather than wait for 2015, when the group aims to complete the 18-kilometre trail, the city should look at planning a city-wide system. He suggested a committee could be created devoted to creating connected walking and biking trails across the city, not just Junction Creek.

For more on the Connect the Creek Coalition and its work, go to connectthecreek.com