James O’Grady announces support for the completion of the Nepean Trail

Ottawa, Sept. 9, 2010 – James O’Grady, registered candidate for Ward 9: Knoxdale-Merivale, is pleased to announce his support for the completion of the Nepean Trail, a long-standing project of both the City of Nepean and the City of Ottawa.

The Nepean Trail was first planned in 1982 as a way of connecting Nepean’s communities and recreational areas using pathways for cyclists and pedestrians. “The Nepean Trail is an important project that has been left incomplete for too long,” O’Grady said. “Completing this cycling and pedestrian trail will provide safer cycling alternatives for recreational cyclists in Nepean. It will strengthen our communities by tying them together and it will help increase physical activity among children and adults, all important components of a sustainable city.”

Knoxdale-Merivale was not included in City Council’s recent expansion of Ottawa cycling routes. O’Grady intends to fight for funding for the Nepean Trail during draft budget deliberations in December. “I will not allow Nepean to be overlooked,” said O’Grady. “Nepean deserves its share of the cycling plan budget.”

The Nepean Trail currently runs from Cedarview Rd. in the west to the community of Tanglewood, stopping at Woodfield Drive just before it reaches Merivale Rd.

Completing the Nepean Trail will require two additions to the existing cycling pathways. From Tanglewood the Trail would continue north under the overpass on Merivale Rd. to the communities of Borden Farm, Skyline and Fisher Heights by Baseline Rd.

The cost of these additions is estimated to be $160,000. The continuation of the Trail to the Rideau River along the Nepean Creek is a potential expansion option, at an estimated cost of an additional $80K. O’Grady intends to supplement money allocated by the City with private sponsorship to help reduce the cost to taxpayers. “This is a ‘Nepean’ project that will be an attractive sponsorship opportunity for many Nepean-based businesses.”

James O’Grady is a schoolteacher and communications specialist who was born and raised in Nepean. As a community leader O'Grady helped organize the ‘Stop Shoppers’ campaign in the spring of 2009 that garnered strong support from residents in the communities of Craig Henry and Trend-Arlington. He is currently serving as vice president and membership coordinator for the Trend-Arlington Community Association.

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Ben Myers
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