Walking Path project nears end of consultation period

The public consultation for the recreational walking path near the Mercier Bridge up-ramp is coming to an end and the consultant in charge of the project said she’s been pleased with the level of community engagement.

“There have been lots and lots of questions and some issues that have arisen that we hadn’t previously considered,” PlanIt Consulting and Communications lead consultant Maris Jacobs said. “Some of those issues are the place of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and where they belong. ATV owners are asking questions and want to be included in the discussions and so that’s something we’ll have to consider as well.”

The proposed pathway will be located on land located between the Old Malone service road and the Highway 132 up-ramp to the Mercier Bridge.

The consultation kicked off late last month and offered up a pair of options for those living in the community, Jacobs said.

The first option will be what Jacobs called a ‘forest-focused pathway,’ where the walkway would not intrude into the woods and leave the woods completely wild, which would keep the forest as is, but would limit accessibility to the forest.

The second option would feature a walking path through the woods, which would allow anyone with any level of mobility to enjoy the forest.

Jacobs said the consultation has heard from about 150 community members to date and she knows that there are still a few people who have thoughts that have not officially come forward.

“We know we haven’t quite heard from everyone,” she said. “We know that some people have still to say their piece and ask their questions.”

There will be one or two pop-up kiosks to be held in the evening in “the next week or so,” Jacobs said. “The evening is a good way for us to hear from those people who haven’t come forward yet.”

Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase