07-25-2017, 08:14 PM
I have a bit of a sad story about the trail between Mill Park Drive and Old Mill Place in Kitchener, by the Wastewater Treatment Plant (behind Doon).
I had vented my frustrations earlier this year when I noted that signage there said construction along the closed trail was to be complete in 2016, only to find that it was still blocked off with a huge "NO TRESSPASSING" sign and fence in Spring 2017.
Regional staff told me that it would be reopened in June.
On my way home from work today, I thought I'd give the trail a try, instead of staying on the road, and see if it was actually open. The South end where it meets Old Mill Place was barred with a temporary barrier and a sign, saying it was closed... I noticed that this barrier went up after the flooding a few weeks ago.
Right as I was about to keep moving on (and not go down it), a very out-of-breath cyclist came up out of there. I asked her if it was passable, and she said no, not really. She said "But I saw a sign at the other end... that said construction was in 2016!!" before she could even finish her sentence my heart just sank.
She was somewhat distressed and I could see her bike was in really rough shape, and she was looking for help at the College (hospice?), so I helped give her directions and she went off on her way.
But it just really made me sad and upset that, here's someone a little less fortunate who was relying on infrastructure to get where she needed to go... and it totally failed her.
I had vented my frustrations earlier this year when I noted that signage there said construction along the closed trail was to be complete in 2016, only to find that it was still blocked off with a huge "NO TRESSPASSING" sign and fence in Spring 2017.
Regional staff told me that it would be reopened in June.
On my way home from work today, I thought I'd give the trail a try, instead of staying on the road, and see if it was actually open. The South end where it meets Old Mill Place was barred with a temporary barrier and a sign, saying it was closed... I noticed that this barrier went up after the flooding a few weeks ago.
Right as I was about to keep moving on (and not go down it), a very out-of-breath cyclist came up out of there. I asked her if it was passable, and she said no, not really. She said "But I saw a sign at the other end... that said construction was in 2016!!" before she could even finish her sentence my heart just sank.
She was somewhat distressed and I could see her bike was in really rough shape, and she was looking for help at the College (hospice?), so I helped give her directions and she went off on her way.
But it just really made me sad and upset that, here's someone a little less fortunate who was relying on infrastructure to get where she needed to go... and it totally failed her.