Chatham-Kent is investing nearly $1.6 million to complete several projects planned for trails across the municipality.
The bulk of the funding will go to completing the CASO trail this year, a new trail in Wheatley, and revitalizing several asphalt pathways in both Chatham and Tilbury.
Active Transportation and Special Events Coordinator Genevieve Champagne said the completion of the CASO trail will focus on the last remaining 22 kilometres to complete the 33-kilometre easement.
"In 2018 we built the first 5.5-kilometre section and then in 2020, we built the next 5.5-kilometre section," said Champagne. "The completion will allow residents to travel from McPherson Road to Communication Road on the rail trail. It connects Muirkirk and Ridgetown together and allows access to Thamesville, Blenheim, and other surrounding communities."
According to Champagne, when the municipality first started building the CASO trail, there was some apprehension but officials have since met some very receptive residents who use the space regularly.
At the start of the pandemic, trail use in Chatham-Kent saw a significant boost, with some trails used by several hundred people a day. Last year, a total of 427,786 trail walks took place at 22 trail sites throughout Chatham-Kent.
"I am expecting the trail use to remain high as the pandemic lifts," said Champagne. "We are working with other municipalities such as Essex County and ERCA to work together to connect the rail trail together over the next ten years."
Other projects include building the Wheatley Arboretum & Learning Centre trail, which will be 1.3 kilometres in length. The Henry Smyth Pathway trail in Chatham will also be reconstructed into a 3-metre wide multi-use path.