Skip to main content

Re-Open and Repair Maria's Walk

Hopeful start

"It shouldn't be a big deal, so hopefully McMaster will get behind the idea."

Goal

Remove barriers to access on the trail between McMaster parking lot "P" and the west side of the bridge over Cootes.

Barriers

  • The barriers are cement and other debris blocking the lower access point to the trail at Lot P
  • No trespassing sign
  • The "speed humps" on the actual trail, making the trail more dangerous.

History

This trail was part of the Royal Botanical Gardens’ Coldspring Valley Nature Sanctuary, 1958-1963. 

This is the longest, mostly intact, surviving trail, after campus parking lot expansion into west campus in 1968. McMaster bought the land from the RBG in 1963.

Our Request

We will be asking McMaster University to remove barriers to this section of trail (see red stars on map), so that people can use it safely. (blocked at both ends, and “speed humps” on trail)

We also want to commemorate the history of the area in some way with some sort of sign/plaque. Rather than treating this historic path as a liability, we want McMaster to celebrate the natural footpath and history of the area.

Other trails leading to the same area like the Lakelet Path south of the Campus Services building (see yellow star on map, above) have “use at own risk” signs, as does the trail system of McMaster property at Lower Lion’s Club road in Hamilton.

There is no need for “no trespassing” signs on this historical trail. Use the same signage as the Lakelet Path and embrace the remaining beauty of the footpath known as Maria's Walk. Remove the barriers, and welcome people to enjoy the trail.


Who to contact?


  • Let the university know you want the path opened and repaired with a polite correspondence: contact Roger Couldrey, VP Administration at McMaster: vpadmin@mcmaster.ca or (905) 525-9140, ext. 24755 (please cc or send a copy to dundastard@gmail.com so we can gauge the interest and arrange follow-up here at Restore Cootes)
  • Want to get more involved behind the scenes? Or maybe you think this campaign is misguided? Do you have some ideas you want to share? Contact OPIRG McMaster at 905-525-9140 x26026 or e-mail Randy at dundastard@gmail.com.


RESTORECOOTES.BLOGSPOT.CA

Other links: 




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Slow Sign and Turtle Time

THEY SAY: Information Report: April 3, 2017 SUBJECT/REPORT NO: Rare Turtle Recovery, Wildlife Corridor Issues and Roads of Issue at Cootes Paradise (PW16024a) - (City Wide) Traffic Issues on Cootes Drive Traffic Operations & Engineering has been working with the Ward 13 Councillor on traffic signage along Cootes Drive. Four (4) traffic signs (with flashing lights) operating during turtle migration season will be installed in the spring of 2017. The migration period for turtles is generally around the months of June, early July and September but can vary due to weather conditions. The traffic signs are useful in alerting motorists of potential turtle crossings on that roadway. RESTORE COOTES SAYS: Is it working? Is there any evidence that it is helping turtles or even slowing vehicles? We're betting it has little to no impact - the light is always flashing, if turtles are present or not, the road is built for speed and it makes it dangerous to slow down. We hope

a vision for nature in Cootes

View the Eco-Park Document here Make Cootes national park, group urges TheSpec.com - Local - Make Cootes national park, group urges Create eco-park in urbanized area Eric McGuinness , The Hamilton Spectator (Jan 28, 2009) The idea of a Cootes Paradise National Park is being revived by local conservationists. But they say it is jeopardized by plans for a self-storage warehouse beside the Desjardins Canal at the east entrance to Dundas. They point to a new vision of an urban eco-park -- maybe a national park -- incorporating the Cootes marsh, drafted by Urban Strategies Inc., the firm responsible for McMaster University's campus master plan among other Hamilton projects. Joe Berridge, a partner who has helped reshape waterfronts in Toronto, New York and London, produced the concept document at the invitation of Ben Vanderbrug, retired general manager of the Hamilton Conservati

Urquhart Butterfly Garden speaker series

A lovely butterfly garden is the perfect setting for this annual speaker series. August 4, 2018, Guest speaker: Doreen Nicoll You cannot have Monarch Butterflies without milkweed.  Doreen Nicoll has recently become a heroine for monarch butterflies, by insisting on her rights to grow milkweed in her naturalized garden in Burlington. Doreen  Nicoll has long understood that garden with nature and not against her is the best thing for our planet. She also knows that native plants are great at attracting butterflies and bees of all species. Doreen will be the first presenter in the Summer Series at the Urquhart Butterfly Garden and her topic will be Monarchs and Their Milkweed and naturalized gardening. She has wealth of information and is fun as well! The session will begin at 11 am Saturday on August 4 and last approximately one hour.  Please bring a chair. If it rains the session will be cancelled. For more information about the Urquhart Butterfly Garden please visit ur