Response to a few City Trail Closure Justifications

The City of Guelph has cited protection of a sensitive wetland as a reason for removing trails within an urban forest. However, this rationale overlooks the broader environmental context and misses a critical opportunity for community collaboration. Consider the following counterpoints:

• This "sensitive wetland" is bordered on all sides by roadways that contribute far greater environmental harm through chemical runoff—including road salt, oil, and heavy metals—than foot traffic from forest users.
• Scientific studies have shown that road salt mobilizes heavy metals into freshwater ecosystems and groundwater, contributing to long-term degradation of wetland health. Learn more here.
• Foot traffic, when properly managed, can have minimal ecological impact, especially compared to the constant and unregulated pollution from surrounding infrastructure.
• Rather than outright trail removal, the City should work with the community to reduce trail proliferation through education, signage, and designated pathways. The heavy handed "telling you how it will be approach" shows a lack of respect for the people of Guelph.
• Protecting and maintaining an alternative trail network to alleviate pressure from the overcrowded main trail—especially on weekends—would better balance ecological protection with public accessibility and wellbeing.
• The existing rail trail experiences annual washouts, resulting in the movement of aggregate into nearby river systems. Despite these recurring issues, current resources appear to be directed toward trail closures rather than addressing infrastructure improvements on existing, impacted routes.

Is this truly a responsible use of public funds, or does it reflect a troubling absence of strategic oversight within the parks and trails department? Redirecting resources toward trail removal, rather than addressing long-standing infrastructure failures, raises serious questions about priorities and accountability.

We urge the City of Guelph to adopt a more balanced and evidence-based approach that includes environmental mitigation efforts at the roadway level, while preserving access to nature for the public through thoughtful trail management.

Trail closures should be an avenue of last resort, when all other options have been extinguished. Let us not be passive, let your voice be heard. Share this information with your friends and anyone who loves to be in the outdoors.