North of the Nith project clears first hurdle

An aerial map outlines the proposed study area north of the Nith River, including Barker’s Bush, Charlie Creek and lands identified as the County Operational Zone, situated between downtown Paris and surrounding rural properties.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

A long-term vision for trails, restoration and recreation north of the Nith River has the support of most councillors, following a detailed presentation and strong public input at the Feb. 17 Administration and Operations Committee meeting.

The North of the Nith Trails and Open Spaces Master Plan lays out a 20-year roadmap for the 344-acre site owned by the County of Brant and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), guiding future trail development, environmental protection and community partnerships.

Stacey Ellins, Director of Parks and Recreation and project manager for the master plan, opened the public meeting by introducing members of the project team, two First Nation partners, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Six Nations of the Grand River, and 10 community groups involved in shaping the plan.

“Through our engagement with public and community partners We heard that balancing recreation with conservation is a top priority,” said Ellins. “Alongside a strong interest in seeing mountain bike trails throughout the North of the Nith, the community also discussed a desire to have variety of trail types and experiences.”

Chris Veres, lead landscape architect with Scatliff + Miller + Murray, provided an overview of the site and its constraints before council heard public delegations.

“The land is really defined by various eco systems,” said Veres, noting it does have constraints like the Land Transfer Station and lands owned by Amrize and the GRCA.

“Through the process the number one message we head was the need to balance recreation with conservation,” Veres reiterated.

The property includes lands owned by the County and GRCA, while Amrize (formerly Lafarge) holds an active extraction licence in the southern portion of the site. According to the staff report, the area includes wetlands, floodplains and natural heritage features that support species at risk.

The master plan centres around five major components, referred to as five big moves: Loops and Links, the Mountain Bike Trail Park, Environmental Restoration and Protection, the Penman’s Pass Extension and the Park Entrance.

The plan recommends approximately 15 kilometres of primary trails, including 12 km of shared-use trails, one kilometre of pedestrian-only trail and two kilometres dedicated to a Mountain Bike Trail Park. With anticipated secondary trails, cyclists could ultimately have access to up to 21 kilometres of trail within the site.

According to the project charter, one of the key benefits of the master plan is to utilize available lands for recreation and trails close to the urban boundary of Paris, providing safe and accessible opportunities for residents while formalizing currently unauthorized use.

Phillip Mete, General Manager of Community Services, said the final document reflects the wide range of public feedback received over the two-year process.

“At the end of the day, we put out a good mix of what the community wanted.”

He reminded council the document is a master plan framework and that specific projects will come forward in phases over time.

The implementation strategy outlines 30 projects over three phases, with an estimated total cost of $8.3 million, subject to future capital budget approvals. How much of the project will be funded by the county or through community partners remains to be seen. 

Beyond recreation, the charter outlines environmental benefits including restoration of natural heritage features, improved ecological linkages and buffers, invasive species management, and mitigation of flood risks through wetland enhancement and erosion-reducing plantings.

“I’ve been doing community projects for 20+ years and it’s probably been the best input I’ve ever seen on a community project. There’s so much interest,” said Mete. “We are so excited about this project.”

The project charter also identifies educational opportunities tied to the cultural and ecological history of the Nith River, recognizing its designation as a Canadian Heritage River, and calls for early and ongoing Indigenous relationship building.

Safety is another central benefit, with the plan aiming to provide safe and legal public access, reduce conflicts between user groups, define operational lands at the Paris Transfer Station, and secure areas currently impacted by unauthorized ATV and dirt bike use.

Public delegations reflected the range of interests tied to the property.

Duncan Ross of the Brant Cycling Club requested council receive the draft master plan as information and authorize staff to research a Community Led Initiative (CLI) model, including delegated authority for the planning, fundraising, implementation and management of the North of the Nith Singletrack Trail Network and Nature Park, with oversight provided by senior staff, and report back to council by June 1, 2026.

Dana Darnbrough of the Brant Waterways Foundation asked for a review of community-led initiatives and their operating models, with a report back to council by June 2026. Darnbrough also advocated for purposeful inclusion of single-track mountain bike trails and parking in the northeast areas in Phase 1, while deferring Penman’s Pass remediation activities.

Laurel Winger and Ed Wilson of Brant for Nature urged council to create a multi-use recreation area that is safe for all and protects the unique flora and fauna of the property, and asked that necessary scientific studies be conducted to ensure sensitive species are not impacted.

Individual speakers also weighed in.

Simon Stolarski voiced support for the development of a single-track mountain bike trail network, while Chris Stewart called for quicker action and more mountain bike trails. Chuck Beach asked for the stoppage of motorized vehicle environmental harm, not to purpose Penman’s Pass and to provide political assistance with Amrize. He said he believes the project appears stymied because Amrize has mining rights to a majority of property designated for environmental restoration.

Jeff Leader encouraged council to accept the plan and work with the wider community to enhance the natural heritage and educational potential of the property.

Following the delegations, council members brought forward comments and questions. 

Coun. David Miller asked how information presented by delegations would be incorporated into the plan, noting they were some of the best delegations he had seen in some time.

Mete responded, “We are going to take everything that came in today into consideration. We are going to work together with all our partners moving forward. We have a framework set out – should community partners want to start.”

Coun. John Bell commended staff, calling it the best staff report he has seen in seven years on council, describing it as balanced and detailed. He referred to the plan as a tremendous opportunity.

No where else in the county do we have this type of acreage to dedicate to recreation activities, he stated. “We owe it to all of our residents to make it a place that is available, and attractive to all residents.” He added that to achieve that, it needs to be maintained as a county-led project.

Coun. Robert Chambers asked for clarification on exactly what council was approving. Mete confirmed they were approving a roadmap for the next 20 years, with individual projects to return to council in stages through the normal funding approval process. Chambers also questioned whether council was premature in approving a plan that includes lands not fully owned by the County, such as GRCA property and areas affected by aggregate licensing.

In the end, the staff report was received as information and the North of the Nith Trails and Open Spaces Master Plan was approved by the committee. It will go to council for formal approval.