Pembroke opens Algonquin Trail to ATVs, snowmobiles
The City of Pembroke has removed a major blockade to ATV and snowmobile riders, now allowing them access to the Algonquin Trail throughout the entire city.
Until now, ATVs were never permitted on the recreational trail through Pembroke, and snowmobiles were only granted access to certain sections. Pembroke Mayor Michael LeMay says the decision to fully open the trail was driven by the economy.
"It's a case of developing tourism, and to do that you have to have something available," LeMay tells CTV News. "You have to make the city a destination in all four seasons."
A sign prohibiting ATVs along the Algonquin Trail. The City of Pembroke is opening up the trail to snowmobiles and ATVs this winter and in the coming spring. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News Ottawa)
It's a decision that has also made the Renfrew County ATV Club very happy.
"It's going to be a wonderful connecting piece to be able to bring our riders right here through the city of Pembroke, right along the marina, bring it in to the businesses," says club president Teresa Hebb. "It's great news."
Opening the trail through downtown Pembroke now connects the Algonquin Trail into one straight shot from Smiths Falls to Petawawa. Previously riders would use a decommissioned CN rail bed around the outskirts of the city, but a section of the rail bed recently became private property, leaving riders no where to go.
"136,000 riders in the course of a year use this trail system," says Hebb. "So that means that all those people, when this trail was closed, would have to turn around. They would come up from Arnprior, get as far as Pembroke, turn around and go home."
A sign along the Algonquin Trail prohibiting snowmobiles. The City of Pembroke is opening up the trail to snowmobiles and ATVs this winter and in the coming spring. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News Ottawa)
Hebb says the club has also donated $40,000 to the county, which owns the trail, to help maintain and improve it. Specifically through downtown Pembroke, ramps, stopping points, and parking lots are set to be added to allow ATVs and snowmobiles to turn off the trail for riders to access amenities.
"Riders will stop, they'll grab an ice cream, go into town, go to restaurants," says Hebb, who adds the club projects an additional $3-million in economic benefit now that access to the trail has been improved. "They're very much looking forward to it."
"It will be great for the community, and great for the county," says LeMay. "Especially now, we've gone through COVID-19, and I think more and more people as far as their destinations, I think we're going to see them within the province, and it doesn't matter where. So let's get on board with it."
Pembroke city council did raise concerns over possible noise and dust clouds before ultimately passing he vote, concerns Hebb is already working to solve.
"When you're on this trail, which is going to be a 20-kilometre an hour trail system, when you're riding on an ATV at 20-kilometres an hour, that noise is considerably less," says the club president. She adds a portion of the donation made will also go to dust sprays and deterrents to keep dust clouds at a minimal.
Grooming and maintenance by the county still needs to take place, which means ATV riders will likely have to wait until the spring before riding the new stretch through Pembroke, but the city's mayor says the trail should be ready for snowmobiles once winter arrives.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.