Map of RR trails featured on new sign!

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River Community Trails took another step forward last week with the installation of trail’s head signs.
The head, or beginning of the trail is at Heritage Square, just north of Hwy. 11 in Rainy River.
Last week it was officially marked when signs created by Wilson Signs and Monuments were erected by Greg Wilson.
The signs feature a map of the trail which travels south on Main Street for two blocks and then east and west. Going west it turns south at Sixth St. to the park where it travels east again and eventually north where it meets up with the segment that turned east on Main and Mill Ave. At that point, Mill and First, trail goers can choose to travel east or west. On the east route they will travel to the former Mill Yard and around it.
About a month ago the community trail project reached another milestone. A portion of it was paved with asphalt. The balance of the paved portion will be completed in the spring. At that time more signs marking the pathway will be placed on posts that were also sunk last week.
The Rainy River Community Trails project began about three years ago and the portion that is now open features 2.3 kilometers of accessible and 4.2 km of green way trails. It is considered to be phase I of a trails system that if proves to be popular and sustainable could be expanded in years to come.
The accessible portion can be used by wheel chairs and motorized scooters (for seniors or disable persons). The trails are multi-use in that they can be walked, cycled, skate-boarded (where paved), run, etc. No motorized vehicles such as autos or atvs are allowed.
The trail’s head sign features a “You are here” map outlining the trail’s route. Two other signs will also be placed east and west of town to let people know they can stop in Rainy River and utilize the trail. “We hope that this will have some economic spin off for businesses as well as promote health living,” said Heidi Ivall of the trails committee. The trail goes by many businesses in Rainy River, and with funding for signage from the Rainy River Future Development Corporation it is hoped that some trail users will stop and patronize businesses.
In addition to the completing of paving next spring, crusher chips will be added to areas on the green way path as will two rest stops with benches on the river near Heritage House and near the Community Garden. Once the trails are completed the final signage and promotional maps/brochures will be installed and distributed (maps at the trail’s head signs).
With a little in kind work from the Town Crew, the rest of the cost for the project was provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Rainy River Future Development Corp. and the Northwestern Health Unit.