Pedestrian traffic along the Georgian Trail has increased in the past few weeks and local residents are worried that if users don't maintain the recommended two-metre separation, the 34 km trail that connects Meaford, TBM and Collingwood, may be forced to close.
“We are hopeful that the trail will remain open, but as it is municipal property, we must leave it up to the municipalities (or the province) to determine if it should close,” says Janet Findlay, board member of the Georgian Cycle and Ski Trail Association, a volunteer organization with a mandate to promote the use of the trail.
The trail is managed by the three participating municipalities - Collingwood, TBM and Meaford.
“Town staff have been in communication with town staff from both Meaford and Collingwood in regards to this,” says Tim Hendry, director of communications and economic development for the TBM. “TBM is monitoring the situation daily. Ideally, we would like to keep the trail open, however, this will require compliance from the public and there needs to be evidence that the public is adhering to public health orders.”
Findlay says the association has posted a notice to its website asking users to not use the trail if you are experiencing any symptoms, to keep a distance and to warn other pedestrians as you approach.
“From my experience lately using the trail every other day or so, I have found that trail users are maintaining the proper distances. I hope that continues,” Findlay says.
Dean Collver, director of parks, recreation, and culture for the Town of Collingwood, says the trail is currently open and the town continues to follow provincial orders, adding that he struggles to see how the town would successfully close the trail.
“As much as I respect and appreciate the fear that we are all experiencing, and the focus everyone has on the challenges of coronavirus transmission, I’m also not sure that closing trails is not just trading one rule violation (not observing social distancing rules) for another (utilizing parks and trails when they have been closed),” Collver says. “At this time we are continuing to try and educate consistently while following the regional, provincial, and federal guidelines and regulations in response to COVID-19.”
Local resident, Mary Lennox says she hopes trail users are being extremely cautious about personal separation as closing the trail would be a big loss.
“I think of it as our community sidewalk,” Lennox says. “We have noticed over the last week, especially this weekend that [personal separation] is not happening. If this continues, the trail will be closed, and I suspect all three municipalities will agree and the whole length will be closed.”
According to Hendry, the local OPP have been patrolling the trail and were out this past Saturday in TBM and Sunday in Collingwood.
“The OPP have reported that everyone using the trail seems to be abiding by the public health requirements of personal distance and say they did not come across any groups larger than five,” Hendry says. “At this point the OPP do not have any major concerns, and so, we will be keeping the trail open until we are advised otherwise.”
Findlay says she has reached out to the town for help in spreading the word about keeping the two-metre distance between users, but she has not received any assistance.
"As a resident of Thornbury, I have written to the TBM to ask them to post, and e-blast, a similar message. As of yet, I have not had a reply,” she says.
Hendry says the town’s director of community services will be in contact with Findlay and town staff will work with the association to address the issue.
“This comes down to public compliance, as long as everyone listens and sticks to the rules of two-metre separation, we can keep this facility open,” Hendry says, adding that the OPP will be monitoring the trail again this Easter weekend to ensure it is being used responsibly.
