No stopping the K&P trail now that it has reached Sharbot Lake on its journey north

Jeff Green | Nov 01, 2019

Traffic has been brisk over the last few weeks on the newly completed section of the K&P trail between Tichborne and Sharbot Lake. With the last 8km now completed, the trail is a recreational link between Kingston and Sharbot Lake, and connects the Cat and Rideau Trails with the Great Trail that crosses Canada.

Instead of taking  breather now that the 10 year project is finally compete, Frontenac County Economic Development Officer Richard Allen came to the Frontenac County budget session last week looking to move forward with a plan to link the US border (at Horne’s Ferry) on Wolfe Island with Lanark County, where the former K&P Rail line leaves Frontenac County on its way to Renfrew.

Frontenac County Council decided last year to devote a one time top up of Federal Gas tax funding to trail construction instead of borrowing to complete the trail to Sharbot Lake. But instead of using all that money, Allen was able to secure a matching grant with a portion of the funds, leaving enough let over to contemplate extending the trail 14 kilometres to the north, up to Clarendon Station, in 2020.

In the K&P project proposal, the estimate cost of completing the next phase was set at $580,000, all to be taken from grant money that is being held in reserve funds already ($406,000 from the gas tax fund and $174,000 from a Rural Economic Development Grant)

“The section from Sharbot lake to Clarendon,” Allen told Council, “is not only a beautiful piece of trail, it is owned by one, willing owner, Central Frontenac Township, unlike the previous section which had 34 owners, who were not all willing. And the trail is already there and being used. We need to bring it to the standard of the rest of the trail, but it is nothing like the challenge that the previous section was.”

“One concern is that people are using that piece trail to access their own properties,” said Councillor Bill MacDonald. “they need continuous access through construction and after.

“We will certainly consult with all stakeholders along the trail,” said Allen.

The proposal to forge ahead to Clarendon has been given the green light by council.