Village, trail group team up on Kingston stretch

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

After several months, the Kingston village commission and the Kings County Trail Society (KCTS) signed an agreement to share in the establishment and maintenance of a multi-use linear trail on the abandoned DAR rail bed running through the village.

KCTS director Bob Wright attended the April 9 village commission meeting to sign off on the new partnership. KCTS will “provide the necessary requirements to develop the trail to meet Department of Natural Resources standards, apply for necessary funds and source resources requirements as needed.” Once the trail is developed, the trail society will be responsible for its maintenance.

The village will assist with the identification of the 25-foot right-of-way on the abandoned rail corridor and consult with the society on trail issues that affect users and neighbouring landowners.

Concerns about dust control will be addressed by the continued application of calcium chloride to the trail surface. The material will be purchased by the trail society and applied by the village.

Wright was pleased with the deal.

“This is the way to do things.”

He said the partnership will further the advancement of a local, multi-use trail network. Since forming, the group has met with resistance in some areas of the county.

Muriel Craig, who signed the agreement on behalf of the village, said the agreement shows the trail society is prepared to work with the village to satisfy concerns of the public.

“We have a good many homes and businesses located along the tracks and we can’t ignore any concerns,” said Craig.

The agreement also stipulates holes on the trail west of the Kingston village information centre will be fixed as soon as possible, and bush cutting will be carried out this season at the eastern boundary of the village to improve sight lines and drainage.