Barry Davidson for Wellington Times
The Trail Surface
Ready, set, go! The resurfacing of the Millennium Trail is completed now. More residents and visitors are enjoying it, particularly as a refuge from COVID-19 concerns. The Trail is all-purpose, to be enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, people in mobility devices, ATVers, dirt bikes and horseback riders. Where it goes through farm properties, farm equipment may cross it to access their fields and on the two golf courses, golf carts and golfers may cross the Trail to their holes.
A grateful user, Tory Wright, wrote to the PEC Trail Committee to say, “I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful Millennium Trail. I have been bush-walking that trail on my bike for the last 20 odd years. Every year has been better and better. I live in Wellington so the trail to Consecon was often impassable and especially so since the high water years. So it has been a delight to get up in the early hours and ride to the end of the trail, through the lake and on to Consecon … what a privilege to see all the wildlife and have a private view of the country.
Today I was deeply saddened to find that the fresh trail between Palmer Burris Road and Schoharie Road is now an impassable mess of 10-inch ruts due to ATV’s racing and skidding to stops … It was very sad to see all your hard work destroyed in one night, by people who see the trail as a race course.”
These ruts and several others nearby have been filled-in now by a Trail Maintenance crew, but it is hoped that all users will be more respectful of the Trail’s crushed limestone topping so it can continue to be enjoyed by all.
The Bridges
There are nine bridges on the Trail that need periodic maintenance to keep a smooth surface for travellers. Trains used to go over them, so their superstructure is very strong; it is the surface boards that wear out due to weather and the traffic load. The current one that will be renovated this week is between the kilometre markers 3 and 4, near Novotny Court, east of Consecon.
Someone has stuck a branch in the hole to draw attention to the hazard, but the bridge is wide so it is still passable. The missing boards will be replaced by new pressure-treated 2” x 6” planks and screwed into place.
Ongoing Maintenance
The County owns the Trail so the staff is responsible for its maintenance; this includes cutting the grass on both sides of the finished 8-foot wide surface to minimize vegetation encroaching on the bed. This work has been delayed by the extra work caused by the COVID-19. To keep the Trail in pristine condition, the PEC Trail Committee of interested volunteers, is considering an “Adopt-A-Trail” program to be staffed by volunteers along the 46 km length. A person could be responsible for a km or two where they regularly go for a walk on the Trail. They would be asked to:
- Trim the vegetation back from the Trail signs
- Cut branches that grow out into the 8-foot width
- Collect recyclables or garbage
Concerning the last, the Trail is remarkable free of carelessly thrown garbage. The only recent complaint was about dog owners who did not practise “Stoop & Scoop” for their pets. All Trail users are asked to “take out everything that you bring in” as there will be no garbage bins at the Rest Areas and Parking Lots being developed along the Trail. More importantly, we hope you will get outside and enjoy our resurfaced Millennium Trail, a linear park, a pristine jewel in our midst.
DANGER - 
