Whitney Pier Community Heritage Trail Funding

Residents of Whitney Pier will soon have a new healthy and active option for travel in their community.

The Sydney Tar Ponds Agency announced funding today, Dec. 8, for a new urban walking trail along the eastern border of Whitney Pier.

The agency, on behalf of its project partners, is providing $200,000 to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to help build a portion of the Whitney Pier Community Heritage Trail, a 1.5 kilometre trail estimated to cost about $500,000. The funding is part of a $400 million commitment by the government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia to complete the cleanup of the Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens sites by 2014.

"This trail will be a lasting legacy for future generations," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister responsible for the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency. "Having a multi-purpose trail in an urban area contributes to the overall health and well-being of residents and we are pleased to support its development."

The trail is a community project initiated by the Whitney Pier Historical Society and is a signature project of the municipality's Active Transportation Plan, unveiled in 2008. The trail will stretch from Victoria Road to Matilda Street, and will run along the western border of the former SYSCO property.

The trail will use interpretive signs and commemorative elements to provide the public with a visual narrative of the community's heritage, and illustrate the history of steelmaking. It will eventually link to an active trail system that is planned to be built on the remediated Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens properties.

"This trail plays an important role in connecting three communities," said Kevin MacDonald, CEO, Sydney Tar Ponds Agency. "For the first time in more than a century, residents will be able to walk between Whitney Pier, Ashby and downtown Sydney."

The work began in September and is expected to be completed by summer, 2011.

"We are looking forward to the day that residents can use this trail to stroll, bike or use other active transportation measures to visit family and friends, or to shop in neighbouring communities," said Mr. MacDonald.

The Department of Health Promotion and Protection is also contributing $75,000 through its Recreation Facility Development program. The program assists community groups, municipalities and other not-for-profit organizations to develop facilities that increase public participation in sport and physical recreation.