Holiday Beach Cycling Trail Project
This exciting project will create an off-road, single track cycling facility adjacent to Holiday Beach Conservation Area in Amherstburg.
This completed trail will:
- Traverse through the diverse landscapes and interesting features of Holiday Beach Conservation Area, featuring hills and elevation changes made by utilizing reclaimed material from wetland reconstruction.
- Provide an additional tourist attraction in Amherstburg, enhancing Holiday Beach as a destination along County Road 50, part of the County Wide Active Transit System (CWATS), which provides enjoyable access to Explore the Shore, local wineries, bed and breakfasts, and other attractions en route.
- Create a constructed wetland which will provide significant habitat values, help to combat climate change, and improve water quality around the park and surrounding region.
Why this project is important:
Public interest in cycling as a form of recreation and healthy living is continuing to grow. Investments in cycling infrastructure in the Essex Region have exploded in the past few years. The Holiday Beach Trail proposal has a value-added proposition which includes environmental restorations and enhancements. In a region where merely 8.5% of our land base is in a natural state, while 12% is declared the minimum standard for sustainability, the importance of wetland creation and greening efforts included in this proposal are important to improve habitat values in our region, expand natural areas coverage, improve air and water quality and combat climate change.
Support received so far:
The Essex Region Conservation Authority is grateful to the Amherstburg Community Foundation for their commitment to supporting the creation of this valuable trail. Volunteers from the Essex County Trails Association have been working with ERCA over the past few months to help design a creative route that is sure to become a must-experience cycling destination!