Headwaters Community in Action Presentation

Prepared and Presentedby Patrick Connor CAENovember 13, 2010

Purpose of Session

• Detail Trail trends• To provide a context for trail master-plans• To provide a sense of scope of trail industry• Position HCIA trails in relation to other trails in Ontario• To provide benchmarks on the investments communities make and the rate of return on your trail investment• To provide detail on what has worked to organize trail and users in other areas

Trail Trends•••

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Ecotourism is the fastest growing segment of the Tourism Industry. - (Fleming College 2010)ATV sector estimates 1B in economic activity – (Lanark Trails Business Plan 2005)NOTO, Nature & Outdoor Tourism Ontario, has remained a not-for-profit associationrepresenting over 500 tourism operations, industry providers & public members. (NOTO website)Direct expenditures of Bruce Trail users annually now support over 1,100 full-time equivalentjobs in the province of Ontario, with at least 191 of these supporting local jobs in thecommunities along the Bruce Trail – (Go For Green 2000)Total economic activity generated in Ontario by snowmobiling in the 1996/97 season was over$900 M while total net contribution to provincial GDP (Gross Domestic Product) was estimated at$300M - (Ecologistics Limited 1998).The annual Welland Canal Parkway construction budget of $2.5M will lead to the creation ofapproximately 40 direct jobs, and 50 indirect jobs (IMC Consulting Group 1996)Trans Canada Trail estimates the annual trail economy along the 4,400 of completed TCTO to be2.4B annually of both hard and soft tourism related expenditures. – (TCT Economic Impact Study2003)

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The Washington (State) active outdoor recreation economy contributes $11.7 billion toWashington’s economy, supports 115,000 jobs, generates $650 million in annual statetax revenue, and produces $8.5 billion annually in retail sales and services statewide,accounting for 3.5% of the gross state product. According to the IMPLAN economicmodeling system, this makes the outdoor industry one of the largest in the state. Onlythe Washington software industry is larger, contributing $13.2 billion. (University ofWashington Department of Political Science. August 2007)Cyclists spend approximately $90,000 each night in each host town along the route, andat least one-third of that is clear profit. Towns in between overnight destinations earnup to $5,000 in a few hours by selling food, drinks and souvenirs. – (Denver Post 1998)After just one season, 61 businesses located along the 35-mile-long Missouri River StateTrail reported that the trail was having a positive effect on their businesses. Eleven ofthe businesses reported that the Trail had strongly influenced their decision toestablish their business, and 17 (28%) had increased the size of their investment sincethe Trail had opened. – (American Hiking Society Economic Benefits of Trails (2001)

Trail Trends

Trail Facts

• Using 1,517 trails gathered to February 11, 2009 as abaseline

• Tracking 18 uses on a largely multi-use trail system• <8% are single use – by all uses• Trails need a distinct name and a verifiable land owner• Multiple use means multiplier effect of 2.719:1• This results in 2719 distinct trails per 1,000

• Total available = 44,000kmX2.719=118,000km thus far• Total Ontario = 88,000KM

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Ontario Trails Inventory

4X4 Downhill Ski

Ice Climbing Dog Sledding

ATV Rock Climbing

Motorcycling Snowmobiling

Equestrian

Cycling Running

Camping Cross-country

Cycling Off-Road Canoe

Snowshoe Hiking

N u m b e r o f Trails

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000

4X4Downhill SkiIce Clim bing

DogATV

RockMotorcyclingSnowm obiliEquestrian

CyclingRunning

Cam pingX-country

Cycling Off-Canoe

SnowshoeHiking

Kilometers by Use

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Central

South Western

Eastern

GTA

North Eastern

North Central

Niagara

Ottawa

Number

Series1 32 58 171 171 190 248 401 538

Ottawa NiagaraNorthCentral

NorthEastern

GTA EasternSouth

WesternCentral

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000

Kilometers of Trail Use Opportunity by Region

OttawaGTA

Niagara East

Central North Central

North Eastern North Western South Western

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According to a recent economic impact study, the trail system brings in anaverage of $7.2 million per year into the local economy, resulting in $670,000worth of tax revenues that have been added to the State’s coffers. (HatfieldMcCoy Multi-use Trail, from NOHHV 2006)The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Competitiveness Study 2009,indicates that –

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On average, an overseas visitor to Ontario spends over $1,200 while in theprovince.”Nearly 200,000 people are directly employed in this industry.every $1 million spent by visitors to Ontario, creates about 14 jobs andgenerates $553,400 in wages and salaries in the province

Trails Industry in Ontario

3

# of Projects8348

1

135

171

$ 105,000.00

Amount$16.4

M$12.7

M

$.0.11M

$47

M

$76.21 M

Total Operating

CapitalNational Trail Coalition

Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC)

Building Canada Fund: Communities Component Intake 2

Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Total Capital

21

$$

46,000.0059,000.00

Healthy Communities Fund - LocalHealthy Communities Fund - Provincial

# of ProjectsAmountOperating

Active Living/Transportation

• Two dominant uses, hiking (walking) and cycling

• Total kilometers in Ontario –

Hiking - 13,860

On-Road Cycling- 12,780

Total construction value avg@km $44,000 = $2.4 billion

• .45cents saved from health care per km walked (NZ 1997)

• 10,000 people walk 5.92Km X.45 = $26,640

• need 9000 occurrances, or more people or more km

Estimated Expenditure of Trail Tripper by ActivityFor single trips only no fixed length, ranked by return

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Snowmobiling -Motorcycle -Equestrian –Running -Canoeing –ATV –Snowshoeing -Cycling –Hiking and Walking -

$157.13$122.00$92.82$78.5$46.00$43.00$39.05$22-25.00$10.30

University of Maine 1997-98

University of Oregon 2008

Backcountry Horsemen of America 2008

Runners World Survey 2009

University of Vermont 2006

University of Minnesota 2006

University of Washington & Washington Hiking Society 2007

Velo Quebec 1996

American Hiking Society 2003

Potential Returns• Based on trails identified in the Haliburton area:

- Snowmobiling: 2 trails equaling 615 km @ 1 person trip (157.00) or .26$ per km- Motorcycling: 6 trails equaling 129.4 km @ 1 person trip ($122.00) or .942$ per km- Equestrian: 2 trails equaling 90.6 km @ 1 person trip ($92.82) or 1.02$ per km- Running: 6 trails equaling 104.9 km @ 1 person trip ($10.30) or .357$ per km- Canoeing: 8 trails equaling 121.8 km @ 1 person trip ($46.00) or .377$ per km- ATV: 1 trail equaling 35 km @ 1 person trip (43.00) or 1.22$ per km- Cycling (On-Road): 13 trails equaling 377.9 km @ 1 person trip ($7.50) or .019$ per km- Cycling (Off-Road): 7 trails equaling 480.6 km @ 1 person trip ($7.50) or .019$ per km- Snowshoeing: 21 trails equaling 178.8 km @ 1 person trip ($39.05) or .218$ per km- Hiking Walking: 35 trails equaling 274.6 km @ 1 person trip ($10.30) or .357$ per km- Cross-Country Skiing: 4 trails equaling 44 km = No studies found- Dog Sledding: 1 trails equaling 300 km = No studies found

Potential Returns – Ranked by return @km @trip

$1.22$1.02$.942$.377$.357$.26$.19N/A

ATVEquestrianMotorcyclingCanoeingRunning/Hiking/WalkingSnowmobilingCyclingCross-Country/Dog-Sledding

Six Steps to Effective Trail Building – OTC 1998•••

CONCEPTUALOptimum/desirable route identified through preliminary planning exerciseCONFIRMED

–Route confirmed with owner/operator through meetings/presentations•

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REGISTERED- Formal registration with the land management authority, owner and/or lessee

DEVELOPMENT–Phased upgrading and improvement of trail corridor, including facilities, structures, signs, according to anapproved master plan, to permit safe and enjoyable shared use for 3-5 approved core uses

•CONSTRUCTED & OPEN FOR USE–Development of trail facilities is sufficiently complete to permit safe and enjoyable public use of the trail

•DEVELOPMENT/MANAGEMENT and MAINTENANCE–Continuous improvements/upkeep to the trail corridor ensuring ongoing safe, enjoyable experience

Capturing the PotentialHow to Incorporate Trails?

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Political willPublic involvementProfessional knowledgeAdequate funding

Involve the Public••Advisory committees shape policy and plan new facilitiesCommunity Champions promote, fundraise and supply volunteers.

Enable trails through everyday operations••Share responsibilitiesEnable good decisions to happen naturally

Kara Van Myall, Planner, Bruce County at TrailheadOntario, June 2010

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Learn from othersCraft a strategyImplement strategy across municipal activities like

• Land use planning;• Economic development;• Transportation & Park Planning;• Road design;• Health promotion;• Budgeting; and• Staff training.

Capturing the PotentialMunicipalities need to:

Kara Van Myall, Planner, Bruce County at TrailheadOntario, June 2010

••Good planning involves all aspects of transportation and land use planningAbility to influence can range from Growth management strategies to site design

Capturing the Potential

Planning

Strengthen land use plans• Amend Official Plans and Zoning By-laws• Train Planning Staff

Kara Van Myall, Planner, Bruce County at TrailheadOntario, June 2010

Land Use Planning – Kara Van Myall, Planner ,Bruce County

Provincial Policy Statement

Upper Tier Official Plans

Lower Tier Official Plans

Trails Masterplans

Subdivision Process

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County Council encourages the development of recreational trails includinghiking trails, canoe routes, the Bruce Trail, biking skiing, snowmobile trail.”

“County Council encourages local municipalities to determine if the provision oftrail linkages, as part of a new development, would facilitate the development ofa comprehensive trail system throughout the County”

Lanark County Trails Business Plan (LCTBP) 2005•The planning process is directed and managed by the County’s Trails Sub-Committee.From the outset and under the direction of the Committee, the County of Lanark has andcontinues to actively involve the community at all stages of developing a RecreationalTrails Business Plan.

Capturing the Potential

Bruce County Official Plan (BCOP) 2009

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3.

A community Trails organization – i.e. Bruce Trail -No - no role for municipalityA trails committee, (a sub-committee of Lanark County Council) – yes but theoperations vary widely, from advisory to all functions.A Municipal Corporation for Trails – an independent arms-length corporationestablished by the municipality for the sole purpose of developing and managingits recreational trails: allows for trail specific management and financialindependence from County Council

Capturing the Potential

Administrative Model – many studies try to define how the trail system should be managed.Gordon Harrison in his 2005 Lanark County Plan detailed not only the options but therationale for why one should be chosen.

Six Options:

Six Options continued:4. A Trails Management Group – an owner of a trail (like a municipality) negotiates

an agreement with another organization to develop and maintain its trail ortrails network, often in the form of leasing the trail or trails to amanagement group similar to EOTA – semi autonomous but limited function

5. A joint committee, such as trails and forests. In this case two or more similarlyfunctioning groups work to manage trails, no clear singular purpose for trailsand this fails to capture trails complexity.

6. No role for county.

Capturing the Potential

Preferred Options – Trend at County Level

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Prescott Russell – a municipal corporationGreater Sudbury – community trails advisory committeeLanark County – a municipal corporationChatham-Kent – community trails advisory committeeHastings, Renfrew, Grey – trails management groupNiagara - community trails advisory committeeSimcoe – community trails advisory committeeDufferin-Peel – community trails advisory committeeBruce – community advisory process

Provincial Trail User Organizations/Membership

Trail Users/Public

Trail Managers

Trail Related Businesses

Conflict resolutionInsuranceNetworking/InformationAccess to researchCoordination of provincial networksEducationAdvocacy

Conflict resolutionInsuranceNetworking/InformationAccess to researchInterface with municipal governmentResearchOptions for sustainable funding

Access to markets and dollarsPositive corporate image

AdvocacyInformationProvincial NetworkEducation

Stakeholder

GovernmentInformationProvincial NetworkProject Specific OutcomesSupporter of Process and Initiatives

Regional

Trail

Committee

Capturing the Potential

Costs to administer a Trails Network (Annually)Administrative Budget Item

Coordinators Salary and BenefitsOffice Space, Equipment and SuppliesProfessional DevelopmentProfessional Services (accounting, translation, etc.)Web hostingTotal Administrative Costs

Amount$ 43,000

11,6003,0005,0001,500

$ 64,100

Prescott and Russell 2005

For more information see:

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http://ontariotrails.on.cahttp://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/revitalizeNY.htmlhttp://www.tourism.umn.edu/prod/groups/cfans/@pub/@cfans/@tourism/documents/article/cfans_article_122725.pdfhttp://www.uvm.edu/~snrvtdc/NFCT/atfiles.org/files/pdf/LanarkTrailsBPlan.pdfhttp://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--13138-0,00.htmlhttp://www.railstotrails.org/resources/documents/resource_docs/Comparison_of_Trail_Users_Surveys_FINAL.pdfhttp://www.millinocket-maine.net/msa-economic-impact-study.htmhttp://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/16621/1/2009%20Oregon%20Economic%20Impacts%20of%20OHV%20Study.pdf