FREDERICTON TRAILS COALITION INC/COALITION DES SENTIERS DE FREDERICTON INC

This FY continued interest in Active Transportation on the Fredericton trails was further promoted by our very successful 2023 Parks and Trails Day and ever expanding Adopt-a-Trail Program plus community activism and volunteerism increases. The 2023-24 Trial Care program saw the Fredericton Trails Coalition continue to host several trail safety and trail support and promotional events to increase trail awareness use and safety. The comprehensive 2023 Fall and 2024 Winter/Spring Cleanup events coordinated by the Fredericton Trails Coalition connected with over 30 volunteer Adopt-A-Trail user groups totaling over 250 volunteers to keep our trails clean and safe for all trail users. An increase in interest from commercial entities brought in 6 new volunteer organizations to participate. The 2023 Parks and Trails Day conducted 03 June 2023 hosted 32 events along Fredericton's Trails centered about the Bill Thorpe walking bridge. This event is also includes the spring Trail Volunteer Appreciation Event to solicit even more volunteer trail support groups and volunteers. The continued educational campaign for Trail Safety awareness & Trail Etiquette continued with the involvement of Fredericton Police and City management given the new City ByLaws passed as promoted by the advocacy efforts of the Fredericton Trails Coalition. The educational trail safety campaign/program is promoted at trail events and emphasized with the Feb 2023 introduction of City By-law No. L- 19 'A By-law Respecting Parklands and Trail Systems' to improve trail safety articles in municipal law. The Coalition focused on events and sponsors to support increased safe trail usage and trail volunteer recruitment. The City of Fredericton confirmed the requirement for The Fredericton Trails Coalition to liaise with the Public and User Groups to take the lead to plan and execute Trail User events in Spring 2023. Ongoing trail user involvement events continue in the Winter and Summer to promote using the trails in all seasons. The Valley Trail public mural was also updated due to vandalism and graffiti. Monthly meetings open to the public provide a forum for trail users to voice concerns and recommendations which are compiled by the Trails Coalition and presented to the City stakeholders. The annual donation of (two) longboards and helmets for use on the trails is managed through donations to the Fredericton Library as continued in 2023.

Trail Watch Program is still being developed in conjunction with the City. By cloning our Adopt a Trail program to refocus on community safety and trail hazards the Trail Watch program is seen as the next step in community involvement to not only on clean-up but also on focus on general observations trail maintenance issues to be reported/corrected to the City. The 2023-24 focus on neighbourhood town halls and online questionnaires to assess trail usability features as applicable to each unique neighbourhood population rendered valuable data which was equally pro/con and the process. A BBQ/rain pavilion adjacent to the trails for a young family centric neighbourhood was envisioned but the outcome was determined nil sum game by the aggregate community input and not presented to the City planners in FY 23-24 halting the project development to be addressed in future. Successful advocacy efforts with the City of Fredericton to increase trail safety both perceived and real by enhancing the Parks and Trails Bylaw L-19.1 matured with the Fredericton City Safety manager employing contracted Public Safety Patrols plus place Police Officers with ebikes on the trails. An increase in responsible trail conduct has been observed and commented on positively. The new trail safety campaign was released 03 June 2023 at the Parks and Trails Day event which promoted interest and quality discussions. An adaptation of our Adopt-A-Trail is the Adopt-A-Garden program was formulated for Fall 2023 to increase community involvement and increase awareness of trail aesthetics which increases the trail user experience and user numbers. The Adopt A Garden project commenced initial discussions with the City Parks & Trees Division and is still awaiting City buy in.