The Town has conducted a Pathways and Trails study to meet an important strategic priority of the Town's Parks, Recreation, Culture and Library Master Plan 2005-2021.

Open Houses have been held across the community giving the public a chance to comment on the draft master plan, including the pathways and trails map. Public feedback was incorporated into the study and presented to Council in April 2008.

Public feedback was incorporated into the study and presented to Council in April 2008. The final report on the study will be presented to Markham Council.

Milne Dam Conservation Area Multi-Use Pathway

The Province of Ontario has provided the Town with a $4.5 million grant to help advance the development of the network. One of the first parts of the network plan to move to construction will be a system of multi-use pathways along Major Mackenzie Drive, Donald Cousens Parkway and through the Milne Dam Conservation Area.

February 19, 2009 
Public Information Meeting

• Notice of Study Commencement - Class Environmental Assessment Milne Dam Conservation Area Multi-Use Pathway - Pedestrian Bridges

• Presentation - Milne Dam Conservation Area Multi-Use Pathway  (3.98MB/30p)Project

October 29, 2008
Community Information Meeting

• Review Design Options (Community Presentation)  (2.19MB/36p)
• Comment on Design Options  (67k/2p)
• Minutes - October 29, 2008 Community Information Meeting  (37k/7p)

Contact Information - Milne Dam Conservation Multi-Use Pathway
Carolina Moretti, Councillor Ward 4
Tel: 905-479-7751
Fax: 905-479-7763
Email: cmoretti@markham.ca

The Town will undertake the following steps to implement the Pathways and Trails network:

• Identify high priority projects for implementation in the coming years
  
  
• Identify key partnerships for pathways and trails
  
  
• Commit annual funding for pathway and trail projects
  
  
• Commit operations and maintenance funding to maintain the level of service and quality of existing and proposed facilities
  
  
• Promote pathways and trails through events and marketing
  
  
• Support the Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee of the Town
  
  
• Coordinate pathways and trails with on-road cycling facilities

An interconnected system of pathways and trails, which:

• accommodates a wide variety of user
  
  
• provides a diversity of trail experiences which allow greater appreciation and enjoyment of the natural, cultural, and heritage environment
  
  
• provides improved connections to existing and planned sidewalks
  
  
• is more accessible and connects neighbourhoods with key destinations within the Town

• Develop a long-term pathways and trails plan within the Town
  
  
• Provide guidance for the future delivery of pathways and trails
  
  
• Identify pathway and trail users and specific user needs and requirements through public consultation
  
  
• Develop an implementation strategy that describes routes, methods of delivery, construction, costs, and priority connections to link existing systems
  
  
• Create a data management tool that can be updated and adapted as the trail system evolves over time

• Pathways generally include major paved surface paths.
  
  
• Trails generally include smaller, soft-surface linkages through more ecologically sensitive areas.

Pathways & Trails As Active Transportation

Pathways and Trails are a vital part of the Town of Markham's Active Transportation network.

Why active transportation? For the health of our community. Active transportation reduces road congestion, air pollution, and fuel consumption while promoting good health through exercise.

Active transportation is any form of human-powered transportation to a particular destination - to work, to school, to the store or to visit friends. As long as it is "active," you can choose the mode: walking, cycling, wheeling, in-line skating, skateboarding, etc. Walking and cycling are the most popular forms of active transportation.

In December 2005, the Town of Markham retained Marshall Macklin Monaghan Limited to work with staff in the preparation of a Pathways and Trails Master Plan Study.

For more information on the Town of Markham Pathways and Trails Master Plan Study, please contact:

Shirley H. Marsh, MLArch, MCIP, RPP
Project Coordinator
Town of Markham
Planning and Urban Design Department
101 Town Centre Boulevard,
Markham, ON L3R 9W3
Tel: 905-477-7000 ext. 6900
Fax: 905-479-7768
Email: smarsh@markham.ca

Related information:

• Pathways and Trails Master Plan Presentation from the public meetings held in June and July, 2007 ( 1199k/26p)
  
  
• Final Draft Cycling Master Plan
  
  
• Pathways and Trails Master Plan map ( 1052k/1p)