The Goderich Signal-Star, 1976-12-09, Page 39este contract
een trail assoc.
Iavtdowners
Don McKee of Benmiller is
concerned about the future
of . the Maitland Trail.
According to Mr. McKee, he
fears that what has happened
;;;onhiking -trails in other parts
of the province could happen
along<the Maitland Trail.
`AAs onewho has followed
the development of,the Bruce
Trail 'from inception to the
present day, threat •of serious
,' deterioration by over use,"
writes *Mr. McKee, "I am
concerned that ,the Maitland
Trail may follow a similar
pattern."
In keeping with his interest
as an. environmentalist, Mr.
McKee has prepared the
following article to pinpoint
some of the dangers con-
nected with hiking trails and
hiking associations and t6
suggest ways landowners can
protect . themselves for the •
years ahead.
BY DONALD McKEE.
The idea of public trails
meandering, through un-
spoiled ) woodlands, river
valleys,' and remote ..lake
shores - a' pleasant . one
cherished by town and city
folk .who are increasingly
frustrated, in their desire to
explore and enjoy the
countryside, by signs saying
private, no trespassing, or
keep out.
If 'one talks to property
owners who have posted their
land, usuahlyyoufind an
understanding human who
never objected to the oc-
casional hiker but who ,has
been increasingly provoked
by a complete lack of respect
for his privacy, repeated
incidents of noise, illicit
hunting or trapping, van-
dalism and even theft.
An attempt to .overcome
this conflict of interests has
been the development of trail
associations, generally
composed ' -of-. dedicated
• outdoorsmen and hikers
whose objective is to
establish a network of all
season .trails covering .the
more scenic areas of Ontario.
The idea is excellent, and is
'strongly supported by our
politicians who see in such a
scheme large areas of private
recreational land being made.
available to the general
public without the immense
cost and legal battling of land
aquisition necessary for the
establishment of public
parks.
In their early `years such
trails are an • un.qualified.
success, but as the trickle of
considerate local hikers
-slowly turns into a flood of
strangers from further afield,
landowners *ho in the early
days would greet the oc-
casional • passer-bywith a
friendlywave are ..in-
creasingly provoked by noise,
illicit parking, trespassing,
camp -fires and camping,
even vacant buildings are
broken into toprovide
• shelter. '
What ' started out as a
privilege soon develops into a
right. Confronted by an irate
property owner, . trail users
are apt to retort, `This is a
public trail'. -
As the years go by, the trail
association tends to grow.
large (membership fees are a
real incentive to growth) and
urban orientated. Property
owners now find that the trail
is an accomplished fact with
government departments
threatening to aquire • the
landsof owners who attempt
to divert or close the trail,
Too often, especially in the
more remote areasthis is
exactly what happens.
9wners find the enjoyment of
their property so badly im-
paired that they sell 'out,
frequently to the trail
association (with government
help). Such an event does
nothing to increase, the
association's' sensitivity to
the. interests and rights of
property owners.
Anyone who ' would deny
this should talk with property
owners on the Niagara
Escarpment adjacent to the
Bruce Trail. The Appalachian
Trail which . accommodated,
some .600,000 hikers in 1968,
registered over four million
in the past season. At some
points hikers pass each other
every twenty seconds -hardly
a wilderness experience.
The problem is of course
that which confronts all
mankind, escalating human
populationsconfronted with
finite resources of this 'earth.
Unless there is a dramatic
change in. Canadian im-
migration and population
policies, silence and privacy
will become increasingly rare
and difficult to attain in the
decades ahead. Those who
Fare fortunate enough ter own
tracts of unspoiled land have
the responsibility to preserve
and protect, but must also .be
prepared to give reasonable
access to less fortunate urban
dwellers. -
Politicians 'are very sen-
sitive to the voting power of
our cities, if the general
public is increasingly shut out.
by posting of' lands, the
government .. will aquira
choice private estates, too
often they are converted into
a desolate stamping ground
for the masses - everyone
looses out.:
On the other hand, nature
clubs, trail associations and
such must abandon their
mission like zeal to get young
and old out into 'The Field'
and promote the idea that to.
enjoy the unspoiled coun-
tryside is the privilege of
those who appreciate what it
offers and are sensitive to
what it demands. The routing
and establishment of a trail is
easy. The challenge is to
(Intended for last week)
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ryan
and son Matthew of Timmins
visited . on the weekend. of
November 20 and 21 with Mr.
and Mrs. Walter Clare and
Mary Luanne.
Students at high schools in
this area have completed
examinations. Students at
both highschool and Separate
schools enjoyed Friday,
November 26, as. Professional
Development Day. These
Development . Days help . tor.
widen the teachers'
knowledge so that the
children.,can be taught with.
greater efficiency. '4'.
Students at St. Joseph's
school, Kingsbridge are now
publishing"a "Newsletter". It
is called "Kingsbridge Ken".
The word "Ken" is a Scottish
word meaning "To be •in the
know". We want the com-
munity be in the . know
about our school. News of
happenings to do with the
school will be published and
this will include tournaments,
meetings and holidays.
On Monday,.December 6th
Separate School Supporters
of the Township of Ashfield
will go to the polls to select a
Roman Catholic represen-
fative for the Huron County
Board of Education. Eugene
Frayne, a prominent farmer
iri Kingsbridge is seeking this
position and would appreciate
if you would give him your
vote. There will- only be two
polling places in Ashfield:
Electors in the Western
Division of Ashfield will vote
at the Kingsbridge Parish
„Hall and the electors in the.
Eastern Division will vote at
the Ashfield Township Hall,
between the hours of 11:00
a.m. and 8 p.m. We ask that
you make an effort to get out
to vote. '
Mr. and Mrs. Ian Parker of
Arva attended the wedding
reception at Saltford Valley
Hall on Friday, November 26
for Mr.. and Mrs. Kenny
Moran and spent the weekend
at the former Billy Lannan
AUTHORIZED
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HUTCHINSON APPLIANCES
rlrRADE' INS ACCEPTED
305 HURON Rn.
$24.783i,
homestead visiting with their
many friends and relatives in
this area.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Clare
and Mary Luanne attended
the wedding of. Janice
Spencer to Frank Rocchi in
St. Peter and Paul Roman
Catholic Church in Hamilton
on the Mountain on; Saturday,
November. 27 at`3-p.m. and.
the dinner, and reception
Which were held at thee,
Cr-oation-Hall, Hamilton. •
Nelson Pearson of Ashfield
Township was admitted to the
Wingham and District
General Hospital. on Satur-
day, November 27; His many
friends wish him a speedy
recovery.
rONLY, YOU CAN
GIVE THE GIFT
OF 'LIFE! _J
OODERICH SXGNAV-STR, THURSPAY, DECEMBER
manage it in such a way that
the charin and character isn't
degraded and destroyed.
Property owners 'who are
approached . by a • trail
association for a right of way
across .their lands, - should
demand a contract in writing
which:
1. Pays a nominal rental
(one dollar) each year for
trail rights. This is) essential
to protect your ownership.
2. Includes a map showing
clearly the route • to be
followed by the trail across
your property.
3. Restricts the use of the
trail • to members of the
association who will . carry
identification, --and . have
agreed to abide by an ap-
proved set of rules of trail
conduct.. ,
.,Clearly designates the type
of traffic on the- trail, and
restricts file average, number
of users per day to an ac-
ceptable level.
5. _Releases, property
owners from all claims for
4osses,,damage, or injury that
might arise out of use of the
trail by the members.
Such a contract. would be
renewable at specified in-
tervals (five years).. Property
owners should be members of
the association, with the right
to attend meetings . and to
vote.
• WE'RE '•
HANGING:
OUT OUR
SHINGLE
AGAIN!
ane tuj
SAME ADDRESS
2ND FLOOR OF BROWNS DECOR
33 WEST STREET
Original • Mirrors.
Oil ' in all
Paintings - Styles
GRAND OPENING DECEMBER 9th
JUST IN TIME FO,R CHRISTMAS
COME IN. BROWSE HAVE A COFFEE.
R POWER GOES
DON'T WORRY
GODERICH. P.U.C.
MAY HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE
POWER TO YOUR HOME
FOR PERIOD OF 15 MINUTES
SOMETIME DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
This will only occur if ordered by T
the4 Ontario Hydro - in ,the event of
an extreme emergency
Ontario Hydro has experienced some unforeseen difficulties with their
power generators for Ontario.
We apologize now for any inconveniences that could happen to arise.
GODERICH'PAI .0
•
7
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