Dear County of Brant Elected Officials,

I support the Brant Cycling Club’s (BCC) proposal for the ‘North of the Nith’ singletrack trail network and nature park. The need for this project is clear – there are no sanctioned mountain bike trails in Brant County despite a passionate community of cyclists who have been working with the County of Brant for more than a decade to find a solution. The current lack of infrastructure creates barriers for those who wish to live an active lifestyle and reduces the overall quality of life for residents.  

The benefits of an active lifestyle and outdoor recreation are well documented, including nature appreciation, development of social networks and community, and improved physical and mental health. Conversely, the potential downside of simple non-motorized dirt trails is negligible and poses minimal risk. Scientific research and literature confirm that mountain bike trails have no greater impact on the environment than hiking trails. Simply stated, the BCC’s proposal has substantial upside benefits and little downside.

I believe this project should proceed as a Community Led Initiative (CLI), as proposed by the BCC during their original delegation to Brant County council on April 27, 2021. Following this delegation, Brant County council directed staff to investigate a CLI model (through a stewardship/ license agreement) and report back to council in three months. Five years have passed, and there has been little dialogue or consideration of the proposed CLI model. This raises important questions for the community around transparency, accountability and good governance. 

The advantages of a CLI model are extensive and include:

Partnerships: More can be accomplished when organizations work together collaboratively, building on each other’s strengths.

Community building: Provides opportunities for residents to engage with fellow citizens while making positive contributions to the community.

Volunteerism: CLI’s utilize our collective desire to give back and creates a greater sense of community pride through hands on, sweat equity.

Expertise: Leverage local knowledge and firsthand experience of the people who use trails on a day-to-day basis.

Efficiency: A dedicated CLI model with proper resources and a clear focus can execute projects faster and more economically.

Fiscal Responsibility: Municipal budgets and resources are stretched – we are not asking for the County of Brant to foot the bill, so this is a prudent fiscal decision that saves taxpayer dollars that can be better allocated to other priorities.

The current draft master plan that is scheduled to be presented to council for approval on Feb 17, 2026 fails to consider a true CLI model and forgoes the substantial benefits noted above, placing the onus directly on taxpayers and municipal staff to complete the project.  

Furthermore, it is worrying that a plan specifically for a singletrack trail network and nature park recommends only 7 acres (or less than 3% of the ~300-acre total area) for a ‘mountain bike trail park,’ which provides less than 2.5km of singletrack trail. This would equate to approximately 10 minutes of riding. There are several other material concerns with the draft master plan - notably, a 20-year timeframe for a simple trail network and nature park and multi-million-dollar budget to be absorbed by taxpayers.

I believe the draft master plan is too complex and can be easily simplified through a CLI model to better align with the community’s vision for this project.   

This project came to life because of the creative initiative, hard work, and perseverance of BCC volunteers over the past 10 years. Unfortunately, the voices of BCC volunteers and many community members have not been adequately reflected in the current draft master plan. The public consultation process is broken and appears to have been disproportionately influenced by a small handful of naysayers, resulting in an outcome that does not reflect the broader community interest. The master plan process has taken more than two years, cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, and produced an unfeasible plan with many critical flaws. The time has come to move forward in a new direction.

Therefore, I respectfully request that the elected officials of Brant County council listen to the concerns of the community and receive the draft master plan as an informational current conditions report. I also respectfully ask that council proceed with this project as a CLI with delegated authority through a stewardship license agreement covering the planning, fundraising, implementation, and management of the ‘North of the Nith’ area for the purposes of a singletrack trail network and nature park. This project should be led by a community based, not for profit entity, with appropriate oversight provided by a senior staff member appointed by Council.

This is a simple, fiscally responsible solution that will greatly benefit the community.  

Thank you for your consideration.