Meandering paved trail, OPG Way, officially opened

A beautiful, meandering, paved trail now runs from the intersection of Penetangore Row and Saratoga Road, to the intersection of Boiler Beach Road and Goderich Street, thanks to a little co-operation on a number of fronts.

OPG Way was officially opened Wednesday morning, amid a bit of pageantry, as the sign was unveiled and a small group took a stroll down the pathway.

The new trail is a joint project amongst Kincardine, Huron-Kinloss, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the Kincardine Trails Association.

Brad Kirkconnell of the trails association, said the project received wonderful co-operation from the municipality and the township, and OPG fully-funded the $15,000 cost.

"I've worked on lots of trails but this was one of the easiest to do," he said. "The Kincardine public works department oversaw all the work and did a great job. And the trails association finished off the details. Also, thanks to our neighbours on both sides, the Browns and the Kearns, for their support."

"This is so exciting," said Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie. "It's not too tough to co-operate with Huron-Kinloss, and the result is a beautiful paved pathway. I just wish it had been here 30 years ago when I was taking my children to the beach. I know it will be well used."

She said there are a lot of people at the south end who will walk the pathway, and Community Living of Kincardine and District's apartment building is just across the road from the path.

"This is a wonderful addition to our trail system," said Eadie. "Thanks to the Kincardine Trails Association; we receive so many compliments about our trails. And thanks to OPG for funding this project."

Huron-Kinloss deputy mayor Wilfred Gamble said the township residents are thrilled to have this safe access to the beach area. "We are pleased to work with Kincardine, OPG and the trails association."

Lynda Cain, OPG's senior communications advisor/corporate relations, said this pathway is "the missing link," bringing the trails together so people can walk to Boiler Beach Road and Goderich Street, and then along the connecting trails going north and south from there, and to the beach.

"OPG has been involved in so many trail initiatives," she said. "We appreciate the opportunity to help make Kincardine and the surrounding area such a great place to live."

Kirkconnell said the pathway meanders along because that makes it more interesting to walk. It is handicapped accessible, and strictly for pedestrian traffic not motorized vehicles. In fact, large rocks have been placed at the bottom of the trail to block vehicles from using it.