It was a meeting of the minds when approximately 35 people attended the Community Trails Master Plan Open House in Humboldt the evening of Wednesday, January 9.
"We had an excellent cross-section of people in attendance," said Darrell Lessmeister, Director of Community and Leisure Services for the City of Humboldt.
Stakeholders were invited to write down ideas regarding the development of a trail system in the City of Humboldt by answering a series of eight questions and adding any other requests, comments, or concerns about the project on the last page of a questionnaire.
Aerial maps of the city were also at each table and participants were encouraged to identify current walking patterns and potential routes within the city. A number of tables looked at different ways to link various proposed pathways in order to offer a variety of distances for those who will use the trails.
"People really got into it," said Lessmeister. "It was good to hear the various needs identified by the individuals, organizations and businesses. They fed off each other when discussing various aspects of the trails. Having the maps gave people an opportunity to visualize possible routes."
Lessmeister noted input has always been forthcoming from local walkers and runners, but by combining their feedback with that of other organizations and businesses, will create an even more attractive amenity for the city.
Representing Humboldt and District Community Services (HDCS) at the open house were program manager Nicole Frank and office manager Lisa Selinger.
"Our goal is for the trails to be wheelchair accessible," said Frank.
The pair noted how a couple of years ago during a local run, runners found it very difficult to push a wheelchair participant on one of the existing trails, as the surface was not suitable.
"Accessibility is a key issue for us," commented Frank.
Frank is also responsible for the Community Inclusion Support Service and runs a summer program for youths with disabilities.
"There is no safe access to the mini-golf," said Frank. "We would like to see that resolved at some point."
Patti Durand, trails committee chair, pointed out accessibility is an issue in a few spots around the city.
"St. Mary's Villa is almost like an island," she said. "There really isn't any safe access to it."
Frank and Durand agree curb cuts are a must to ensure all, including tots in wagons, rollerbladers and those in scooters or wheelchairs have a safe place to access intersections, sidewalks and/or trails.
Communities in Bloom (CIB) members Janice Ruedig, Cori Norman and Sheila Nordick see the addition of a trail system to the city as a means of adding another positive amenity to the community.
"When I attended the national CIB conference it was shared with us that when people are looking at a community, they want places for children to play and places to walk," said Nordick.
"The trails would be another way to draw people to Humboldt," said Ruedig. "It is also a way to promote healthy living,which is another aspect of CIB. Many people think we're just about the flowers but in fact we are involved in all areas of the community. Green spaces are part of our mandate, but it extends well beyond that."
"We would also like to see washrooms as part of the system," said Norman. "There are no (public) washroom facilities downtown."
The CIB members noted a neat and tidy community makes for a good first impression and is one of the elements that may influence people to choose Humboldt as home.
Presently Humboldt has two developed trail systems. One is a 400m loop at Water Ridge Park and the other is the Kloppenburg Trail, of which five of the 10 km is completely developed and maintained. The goal is to incorporate these into the new city-wide trail system.
The next step is to post that evening's questionnaire on the city's website for more input from individuals or groups who were unable to make the open house. That information will be forwarded to the project's consultant who will compile the information to create a preliminary plan for the project.
According to Lessmeister this plan will be presented to the Community Trails committee on February 19. The next public stakeholders meeting is scheduled for March 13.
"At each stage, input will be gathered and changes will be made as needed," he said.
The goal is to have the plan completed and presented for approval at the April 8 meeting of city council.
"The most important thing is making sure we do this right," stated Lessmeister. "By working together, taking into account the various needs of the many individuals who will make use of the trail system we can build something that will enhance the lives of the citizens of Humboldt and area."
