COLLECT I V I TÉ • COMMUN I TY
What to do with the recreational trail?
ALEXIA MARSILLO alexia.marsillo@eap.on.ca
The Recreational Trail Corporation is organizing ameet- ing within the next monthwithGary J. Barton, the warden of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell and other UCPR staffmembers to finally come to a decision about the future of the trail, according to Serge Joly, amember of the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail Corporation The issue revolving around the Prescott-Russell Recrea- tional Trail has been an ongoing one for some time now; in October 2016 significant cuts were made to the 2017 budget of the trail, at the suggestion of Clarence-Rockland Mayor Guy Desjardins, who was at the time warden of the United Counties. Although local mayors refused a proposal to close down certain less-used sections of the trail back in March of this year, none have come up with a more feasible plan. A series of four separate public consultations were held in May of this year with the aim of finding solutions and coming up with ideas tomake the trail more viable. Many ideas for unique activities were bounced around, includ- ing bird watching, photography outings and stargazing, amongst others, but the issue always remains to be the promotion of these activities. Before the budget cuts, the Recreational Trail had a budget for publicity, but along with themaintenance budget, publicitymoney was slashed from the 2017 budget. As for right now, there are not many activities taking place along the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail. On the Bourget side of the trail, Canadian artist Jeanette Tos- sounian has been working on painting themural along the trail at the Bourget Pavilion and has been encouraging residents to come out to the trail to see her work and discuss ideas for the mural with her. This has brought some attention back to the trail over the summer, but is it enough?The Recreational Trail Cor- poration, along with the United Counties, should be an- nouncing a final decision in the coming month on the future of the trail.
Time to slow down It is that time of year againwhenmotorists who see this sign and others like it need to ease off on the gas pedal, slowdown, andwatch for children either walking along the road or crossing it to get to school. The “patience rule” regarding school buses is also in full effect andmotorists are warned that anyone who passes a school bus when it is stopped with its lights flashing can expect the full penalty under Ontario law for endangering school children who may be boarding or getting off the bus. —photo Gregg Chamberlain
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