Barker's Bush Trails Master Plan

Protect the wildlife who have no where to go. You are taking away their homes. Stop building homes in Paris. It used to be a nice little town and you ruined it

Removed by moderator.

What makes Barker’s Bush special is that it’s a natural space within a small town that has been relatively untouched by human development over the years. Priority should be placed on conserving this special place. It’s nice to see that the county has some of these values in mind, although a general concern during the meeting was the WSP does not necessarily represent these same ideas. In order for current and future generations to be able to enjoy this area, we need to ensure that the existing ecology is protected. This means; controlling motorized vehicles in the forest (the OPP needs to actively monitor this or pass the responsibility over to the municipality, the signs obviously aren’t making a difference), preventing erosion along the banks of the river, controlling invasive species, educating the public to enjoy the trails respectfully, better enforcing of dog walkers, and potentially modifying muddy trail sections to prevent trail widening which happens when people try to avoid the muck.
As mentioned in the meeting Barker’s Bush is seeing a lot of usage, especially recently, and this is only expected to increase. It seems counterintuitive to consider making access to the trails even easier. Lyon’s Park is a lovely place for large groups to enjoy the river and Paris’ amenities. There is no reason to extend this type of landscape design into Barker’s Bush. It’s important that we leave something for everyone, please leave Barker’s for the people who don’t mind overgrowth, dirt, bugs, ice and snow. The Rail Trail is also a fantastic barrier-free place for people of all ages and abilities to walk and bike. If accessibility is a concern, I would suggest the county look into investing in keeping the Rail Trail easy to use, as some sections aren’t aging well. On that note, it’s worth considering whether the county will be able to maintain some of the trail modifications proposed by WSP (remember the original Distillery trail, that was quickly closed after nature made a few modifications of its own?). I would suggest making an easy access point to the “beach” area, beneath the Penman’s Pass bridge. Please put wildlife-proof garbage bins with a fine for littering. Beyond this point, please leave Barker’s as it is – rugged, wild and beautiful.

Why do you even bother with this 'community engagement'?

It's not like you ever planned on listening to any of us anyways.

Hello again.
I attended the information meeting last night until partway through Q and A. I have commented here, I commented and asked questions last night, but I left feeling very unsatisfied, and with the sense that it is a fait-accompli; that last night's exercise was to measure acceptance or resistance to plans already formed, officially or otherwise, that inform
future communications strategies as much as planning and was not actually an attempt to solicit ideas.
It absolutely did not help that the moderator had never visited the trails. That was an embarrassment and one that in some places would be disqualifying. How can that be? It needs to be rectified immediately. I would be delighted to take him on one of my daily 2- 3 hour walks on the trails with my dog. Just give me a call.
Last night you heard a lot of "do nothing" which was dismissed. I don't think everyone meant that literally. But our options of choices presented were very limited and were channeled in specific directions. It was not a true consultation.

So here is what I personally think at this stage in the process and I daresay I am not alone.
1. Do no harm: Development: this is a basic principle that should govern all decisions. We can't stop the development, but we can minimize its impact on the trails:
- separate the development from the trails with high, private fencing with limited number of access points to the trails.
-have garbage bins, trail rules, etc at the entry points, development side, only.
- institute a severe penalty for garbage dumping on the site from the development during and after construction
2. Do no harm: Renovation: Again the basic principle. We have a delicate patient...don't make her worse by trying to fix her.
The more we tinker with nature, the less natural it becomes. The whole notion of providing amenities while retaining "look and feel" is so disheartening and, forgive me, wrong headed. We should not want to preserve look and feel (I abhor that phrase), we should want to preserve nature itself. This should not be about how we can make visiting the trails more accessible and comfortable for visitors. . This should be about protecting the trails, the forest, the forest floor, the many species of wildlife it supports, from us...from people. Do No Harm, means there needs to be a lot of education. People need to know how to dress for the trails for the conditions on any given day... the proper footwear for example, , so they can enjoy the experience safely. They need to understand that the environment suffers from littering, that you leave it as you found it and there should be penalties for behaving otherwise. You want to take a Tim Hortons coffee with you? Don't leave the cup on the trail. Simple. You walk your dog? You pick up his poop and take it with you. Introducing garbage bins on the trails only welcomes more garbage.

Do No Harm also means avoid superfluous built infrastructure.such as viewing stations.. As one walks the trails, the views change daily and seasonally. There are an infinite number of viewing points. Directing visitors to designated stations, invites congestion, litter and accomplishes what? Nothing in my view.

Do no Harm means that signage should be minimal. The directional signage we have now in the 'loop' is startling enough. But given that most people do the loop and no more (that is an anecdotal observation on my part...is it true?.) . maybe have that kind of signage for the loop only. What walkers and hikers in Ontario are very used to is consulting a trail guide, on a portable map or cell phone, colour coded for difficulty if you wish, and seeking and following blazing on the trees. Having fancy designed and built urban signage in the trails proper, is harmful to the environment and to the experience. (And please please please, don't insist on one way traffic on the trails.No one who really wants to experience the trails, let people decide their own routes. There is souch to discover.

3. Keep it safe for wildlife and people:
I totally support the concern about, and need to rectify, the natural erosion of riverside and other trails. The way one was dealt with recently was a model of how it should be done. The section of affected trail was recut away from the dangerous edge, and the felled trees were used to provide a natural barrier to that edge. For frequent trail walkers it was a seamless solution. That kind of thinking should be applied everywhere.

- A lot was said about trail surface and barriers. The take away here for me is absolutely no asphalt in the forest, period. Not even for 'bridging' in some areas as was suggested on the side. Trails need to be maintained but not groomed as in a park. There are root systems that cross the trails and there are rocks that poke up from the trails, both of which are very helpful for climbing and descending hills, but can be a trip hazard on the flats. Visitors need to understand this and WATCH THEIR STEP. Pretty simple. It is a rugged area. It is not like the park. It does not appeal to everyone but can be enjoyed by many if they know how to use it. Maybe the County can sell walking sticks! Or lend them out at the Public Library! I am serious. And in winter, they can lend crampons. I didn't miss a day on the trails this winter nor did I fall on the ice thanks to my $20 crampons.
So fix the ruts, bridge, using natural materials, some troublesome ditches, but please don't alter slopes, don't homogenize trail surfaces. Repair them and educate people how to use them.
As for barriers, no chain link fences. No metal rails. Use natural materials that appear to have been there all along. Rocks. Tree trunks. Both of those double as seating. This is an environment that encourages movement. Stop and rest on a log: benches belong in the park.
4. The Wetlands. I did not know this area isn't part of Barker's Bush. I walk in the wetland frequently but am happy to support conservation efforts in that area that would prevent or severely limit access. Again, public education is key here.

5. Maintenance: visitors to the park, and to public facilities generally, are often careless with their respect for the environment on the assumption that the friendly park personnel will clean up after them. The more the trail areas are manicured and managed, the more likely that that attitude will enter the trails too. I do see litter, but not that much yet. There needs to be an approach that enthralls visitors in the spectacular beauty of this place and invests them in ensuring it survives for generations to come.

6. Conflicting usage: personally I am not bothered by the cycling that happens on the trails at present. I am there between the hours of 10-ish am to 1- ish pm daily and we just get out of each other's way. However, i don't support a dedicated cycling course in the Bush. There are other places and other options for that.

I did not know that ATV use was not permitted in the Bush and was so glad to learn that. My encounters with drivers has always been polite and friendly but the presence of gas-fume spewing, noisy motorized vehicles tearing up trails, disturbing the wildlife and visitors on these trails is the opposite of Do No Harm.

I could go on...I have already at length...Enough for now.
Thank you
Linda Milrod

Honestly, I'm heart-broken about the Losani homes development. We had a chance to protect the area and build more houses somewhere else. Now this special area and the wildlife will be forever changed for the worst. Shame on all of us for not knowing sooner and not doing something about it.

As for the future, Tim suggested Conservation & Minimal as two key words. Tim is a great designer and understands natural aesthetic. I support his vision. Unfortunately, WSP has no clue about our area, and will present a generic plan to the maximum budget. My suggestion is that we hire a LOCAL nature loving representative to oversee WSP.

As for signs and one-way etc, if you look at the Grand Valley Trail or any part of the Bruce Trail you'll notice walkers, bikers and hikers co-existing without any need for excessive signs, maps, garbage bins, benches, construction projects, one-way signs, single use areas etc. Be considerate of others & Leave No Trace are common-sense rules on many existing natural areas and prevent heated situations. Part of being in nature is learning to respect it. Once you add urban comforts, not only is the experience lost, but people start to expect it to be maintained like any other urban area: Garbage pick up etc. You start thinking of it as ours to experience like a water slide.

Barker's is about learning to respect nature. There will always be those who litter, but it's our job to educate the community over time with garbage pick up and awareness NOT by putting garbage bins everywhere like a shopping mall. Let's allocated budget to educating the community about Leaving No Trace! Less is more and also easier on the budget.

Barker's is already beautiful and extremely safe for all but the most physically impaired individuals. This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart because my cousin is in a wheelchair, but if he heard that they were going to start paving forest paths, even he would think that was completely out of line if the true vision is for it to be a Nature Lover's conservation area.

It reminds me of the folktale where the entire Hillside is covered in leather to walk barefoot, instead of wrapping feet in leather. Let's be smart about this Brant County, if we don't speak up, they'll cram Barker's full of as many man-made items their budget will allow. It's their job to do so.

Been living in Paris for over 50 years and would like to note that Paris used to j hi Kat several events at the fair grounds such as snowmobile racing , tractor pulls , dirt car racing and all this came to a haunt as new people moving in Around the fair grounds started about noise and traffic and so with her then has resulted in very little events. These people knowing full well where they are moving to and should realize this is what Paris does and deal with if they don’t like it move to an area that would be comfortable for them. Tired of the noncence personally as it used to be a spectacular place to go watch events not anymore. And this Barker Bush b/s about ATV and motorcycles is absolutely no noncence as well as after 5 generations of living here that bush has always been the place to go and ride. Is it against the law probably but if it is no trespassing that means nobody even hikers / walkers / ATV / motorcycles. I have seen plenty of people walking and have a picnic and leave they’re garbage behind among camping gear / rotten food / tools / paddles / fire grates and can go on and on and here I am on my ATV that have made those trails for the last 50 years picking up and recycling they’re garbage to keep the trails we made clean. What about the canoeing clan camping and leaving garbage behind that we on ATV “s clean up after. These trails are the same trails from 50 plus years ago that would have grown in if wasn’t for ATV”s would not be walkable. Wish people would just go about life without pointing fingers at motorized vehicles that have been there before everyone started walking our trails , Paris has rail trails through out the town walk those ones With the land of Paris being used up in every square acre that is available where else do people enjoy to ride. Why don’t you worry about the traffic issues being caused by the rise of housing instead of peoples hobbies. If your so concerned about Barkers Bush you should be protesting the development that is about to destroy BARKERS BUSH and wild life that is being pushed out. Why doesn’t Paris use the useless abanded gravel pit for ATV and motorized vehicles so that all ages and family’s who ride can enjoy themselves. I Abe personally been asked my fire and medics to assist them down in BArkers Bush to bring out people hiking / canoeing / kayaking / camping that have substaine injurys . Really people get over it everyone needs a hobby and somewhere to go so pick your trails accordingly to what suits you. If you don’t like what you see go somewhere else and quit protesting this kind of activity . Why can’t Paris be like small towns to the North as you can drive to town or gas stations on Snowmobile / ATV”s etc. Why do we need to licence and insure them like a car if we can use them. People need to worry about other issues instead of picking apart and ruining Paris as it once used to be. Why should it be just for people walking / almost racist to stereotype this kind of activity..

What are your favourite traits of the Barkers Bush Trails?
All of them, especially the ones closest to the river. Permitting ATVs, dirt bike and other motorized vehicles ruins the trails (makes muddy puddles and degrades the nearly habitat); they are also noisy for animals and people. The forest walk should be a refuge and allow people to de-stress and nature to flourish. perhaps someone can start a business on their farmland and build a track for ATV hobbists and other who like to rip around on dirt bikes. Living nearby, I frequently see jeeps driving in there after big rainfalls.
What do you think could be changed or upgraded?
Clean up the garbage and leave it alone. Adjacent Lions park is already overdeveloped. I'm already wondering if I'll need to wear helmut to protect from flying baseballs when walking the Nith Trials when the baseball diamonds are in full use. Sheesh!
What should be protected?
All of it. I remember when the whole parcel was up for sale for $8M, what an investment that would have been! Its sad we lost most of the jewel to developers particularly since the parcel is co-located to the downtown district. It was so unique and encouraged outdoor exercise. I expect the trails will be unbelievably busy after all the houses go up and the new residents in other places discover these trails. What is the conservation conversation with the County going to look like in another 10 years?? I'm not against development but this parcel of land is pretty special.

I agree that a clean up should be completed, mostly on the on the north side of the Nith. However, I echo the comments of so many others: let Mother Nature do most of the work, apart from what is needed to keep the trails safe. Leave the trails as natural as possible and invade the territory of the animals as little as possible. We are so fortunate to have this oasis so close to our town. Let's not ruin it.

Pat Moore

We have been walking and mountain biking in Barker's Bush for over 30 years; at least 340 days a year. During that time we have seen the number of users increase, especially in the last year, of course. The north section (where the orange asterisks are on the map) is, in our opinion, most suitable for trails suitable for all users (physically challenged, families, etc.). The western section (the yellow trails on your map) should be left in a more natural state - particularly because much of it floods every Spring and any built facilities would be damaged regularly. As much as 70% of the land in this section below the ridge is under water every Spring for as much as six weeks. I would also like to say that this land should ALL be non-motorized. There has been a dramatic increase in ATVs and motocross motorcycles in the past 5-6 years, and the trails have become very degraded. They ride in groups and do not stay off the trails when they are most fragile in the Spring. They also have created multiple crossings on the Nith, damaging the banks and impacting the river bed.

We have been walking and mountain biking in Barker's Bush for over 30 years; at least 340 days a year. During that time we have seen the number of users increase, especially in the last year, of course. The north section (where the orange asterisks are on the map) is, in our opinion, most suitable for trails suitable for all users (physically challenged, families, etc.). The western section (the yellow trails on your map) should be left in a more natural state - particularly because much of it floods every Spring and any built facilities would be damaged regularly. As much as 70% of the land in this section below the ridge is under water every Spring for as much as six weeks. I would also like to say that this land should ALL be non-motorized. There has been a dramatic increase in ATVs and motocross motorcycles in the past 5-6 years, and the trails have become very degraded. They ride in groups and do not stay off the trails when they are most fragile in the Spring. They also have created multiple crossings on the Nith, damaging the banks and impacting the river bed.

Barkers Bush trails especially those with with river access and views while walking in a forest area in all seasons are a local treasure. It is always a delight to see different plants and birds along the trails.
Protecting this beautiful natural environment and resource with access for only pedestrian use and by adding only minimal signage and change will be of increasing value for the future. The trails on the other side of the river from Lion's Park also need to be protected and cleaned up.

My favourite trait of Barker's Bush is its natural setting. Any development in the area is sure to destroy the natural habitat, and displace many animals that call this place home. There are already tons of developed trails in the area for our friends from Toronto to explore and pollute - why don't we keep our hands off what little natural heritage we have left?

Have some foresight, and stop letting developer bux dictate the destruction of our natural places.

Smarten up, Brant County.

My husband and I will be at the meeting tonight. The idea of a Master Plan for a natural forest is itself nervous-making. We in Paris and environs are so incredibly fortunate to have access to this extraordinary environment. I am retired. I spend 2-3 hours/day, 7 days/week no matter the weather or the season. The trails never disappoint: a cornucopia of sights, sounds, wildlife and plant life on land and in the river every day and every season. If the focus of this plan is not conservation, preservation and the protection of the flora and fauna, it will be a disappointment.
I am concerned about motorized vehicles on the trails. There has been a fair bit of damage and rutting of the trails done by vehicles as well as intense noise that is not compatible with the environment and frightening to wildlife.
Safety on the trails is paramount. As edges of trails erode, natural solutions ha e been found in the past, and I trust that will continue.
The trails are treasured.

I think it’s a horrible mistake to shove hundreds of homes inside of barkers bush. There is currently an excess of residential lands in Brant county - why take up this incredible, special and rare space with cookie cutter homes and pavement. Echoing other commenters here - this seems like a decision that will be a huge regret down the road. There is an enormous opportunity here to expand the park into the open area that’s in the middle, undertaking a restoration project that could fuel all sorts of research. I understand the need for development but I do not understand why anyone thought this was a good idea. At the very least consideration should be given to scaling back this development a great deal.

I believe that the integrity of the natural environment should be protected at all costs. Trails should be kept as natural as possible in order to minimize disruption in the environment. Due to the proximity of Barker’s Bush to the river, it is a huge wildlife hub, and the species that live there should be taken into consideration at all costs. Even something as small as trimming away bushes and weeds by the river banks can destroys habitat that many species that rely on to reproduce. There should be protected areas in which the trails do not enter so that the wildlife can have an undisturbed space. Already, on the other side of the river from the existing trails near Lions Park, there is significant dumping that is occurring along the roadside. Since this is on a slant, it is making its way into the river. There are also unsanctioned fires that people are having along the banks of the river with the ashes and garbage being left behind. If steps are being taken to legitimize the trails that already exist, there should be a code of conduct as well as expectations that trail users are to follow. There also needs to be a massive cleanup on the other side of the river, I think that before more energy is being put into legitimizing the trails that exist, the unused space on the other side of the river should be returned to its natural state, as this will likely be where animals seek refuge it’s more foot traffic is to occur in Barker’s Bush.
Thank you for asking for our input!

Barkers Bush is a local treasure that few communities are fortunate enough to have. Joining me from Hamilton occasionally to walk our dogs my sister wonders at such a beautiful spot within town. I am incredibly saddened that this will be no more as we once again put developers and profits above preserving the natural habitat. Paris is already bursting at the seams. In years to come we will all look back at what we have destroyed and wonder how we could be so short sited

Our Barker’s Bush green space and trails are a priceless local treasure. For many years myself and my family have enjoyed this beautiful area for walking, cycling and enjoying nature in its many forms. I see no reason to allow motorized recreational vehicles in this area. Motorized vehicles destroy wildlife habitat, are noisy, smelly, and can be potentially dangerous to people and wildlife.
Now that the county owns and maintains this property- it is my sincere hope that our tax dollars go towards maintaining this area in its natural state. Let’s protect this area for respectful and gentle pursuits now and into the future! Let nature be “natural”.

Nothing should be changed or upgraded except maybe stricter enforcement against development of this sensitive land.

What should be protected? I really hope that this is a rhetorical question. The entire area has beautiful network of trails, but more importantly is home to a vast ecosystem.

Developing Barkers Bush will be a colossal, irreversible mistake. The planning committee should be ashamed of themselves for even considering this proposal.

Its so sad to see greed and developer money run your town. I hope Brant County wakes up soon.

The amount of garbage that developers leave behind is a disgrace. When this gets developed get ready for an over abundance of trash left behind from development. More needs to be done to control this issue look at rest acres or Mile Hill roads garbage everywhere. More enforcement is needed especially in a forested area. Fines against developers or site supervisors is required because they do not care about the surrounding areas they work in.