ATV group glad to have multi-use trail bridge
Digby County ATV Club wants to call structure Flat Iron Cross
COMMUNICATIONS NOVA SCOTIAResponse to the Digby area’s new multi-use trail bridge has been good and the bridge seems to be used quite a bit, says a spokesperson for the Digby County ATV Club.
The bridge, which crosses Highway 101 near Exit 26, was officially opened during a ceremony held Sept. 29 of last year.
“A lot of the time you drive by, there’s walkers going across it and four-wheelers and the odd horse,” said Keith Comeau, president of the Digby County ATV Club.
Construction of the bridge – which the club wants to call The Flat Iron Cross – took longer than expected, but Comeau says now that it’s in place, he and fellow ATV club members are glad to have it.
“It’s a lot safer than it was coming down and going across the highway there,” he said.
“When they were building it (people) were saying we needed doctors more than we needed a trail bridge, but one never had anything to do with the other,” he said. “It was a safety issue (with) us crossing the highway and it was a legal issue too. Now that that’s been taken care of, it’s an awesome structure.”
Impressed with the number of people already using the bridge, he said he expects more to make use of it in the future and he expects the local economy will benefit from the visitors the bridge will help attract to the area.
“The Town of Digby was never open to ATVs before,” Comeau said, “and now they welcome us, so we can go right into the old train station, which gives us restaurants to go to and shopping, so I imagine more people from away will come now and use it.”
Use of the bridge will slow down during the winter, he said, given most people prefer to be out on the trails when it’s warmer, but he expects to see some people crossing the bridge during the winter months too.
As for the name his club hopes to give the bridge – Flat Iron Cross – Comeau said approval for the name is being sought from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. As this story was being written, the club had yet to hear back from the province.
The Digby County ATV Club had 88 members as of the end of 2018, ranging in age from 16 to 78. The club had just 25 members when Comeau became president three years ago.
Asked about the club’s recent growth, he said the previous president had much on his plate. Having various activities has helped spur interest in the club, Comeau said.
“You have trail-clearing parties, which gets people out, and you have fun runs, which gets people out,” he said. “They see the club doing stuff and they want to join.” An opening ceremony for the Digby area’s new trail bridge was held early last fall.
- Tri-County Vanguard
- 9 Jan 2019
- ERIC BOURQUE THECOURIER.CA
COMMUNICATIONS NOVA SCOTIAResponse to the Digby area’s new multi-use trail bridge has been good and the bridge seems to be used quite a bit, says a spokesperson for the Digby County ATV Club.
The bridge, which crosses Highway 101 near Exit 26, was officially opened during a ceremony held Sept. 29 of last year.
“A lot of the time you drive by, there’s walkers going across it and four-wheelers and the odd horse,” said Keith Comeau, president of the Digby County ATV Club.
Construction of the bridge – which the club wants to call The Flat Iron Cross – took longer than expected, but Comeau says now that it’s in place, he and fellow ATV club members are glad to have it.
“It’s a lot safer than it was coming down and going across the highway there,” he said.
“When they were building it (people) were saying we needed doctors more than we needed a trail bridge, but one never had anything to do with the other,” he said. “It was a safety issue (with) us crossing the highway and it was a legal issue too. Now that that’s been taken care of, it’s an awesome structure.”
Impressed with the number of people already using the bridge, he said he expects more to make use of it in the future and he expects the local economy will benefit from the visitors the bridge will help attract to the area.
“The Town of Digby was never open to ATVs before,” Comeau said, “and now they welcome us, so we can go right into the old train station, which gives us restaurants to go to and shopping, so I imagine more people from away will come now and use it.”
Use of the bridge will slow down during the winter, he said, given most people prefer to be out on the trails when it’s warmer, but he expects to see some people crossing the bridge during the winter months too.
As for the name his club hopes to give the bridge – Flat Iron Cross – Comeau said approval for the name is being sought from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. As this story was being written, the club had yet to hear back from the province.
The Digby County ATV Club had 88 members as of the end of 2018, ranging in age from 16 to 78. The club had just 25 members when Comeau became president three years ago.
Asked about the club’s recent growth, he said the previous president had much on his plate. Having various activities has helped spur interest in the club, Comeau said.
“You have trail-clearing parties, which gets people out, and you have fun runs, which gets people out,” he said. “They see the club doing stuff and they want to join.” An opening ceremony for the Digby area’s new trail bridge was held early last fall.
Public says "make it shared" at meeting on new Digby trails
Published: Jun 20, 2017 at midnight
Updated: Sep 30, 2017 at 4:38 a.m
Public says "make it shared" at meeting on new Digby trailsSara Ericsson ([email protected])
Published: Jun 20, 2017 at midnight
Updated: Sep 30, 2017 at 4:38 a.m.
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Keith Comeau, president of the Digby County ATV Club, addressed Digby Town Council and spoke of the many benefits ATV-accessible towns reap from ATV users buying lunch and shopping around.
DIGBY, N.S, – The resounding answer from the public attending Digby town council’s public consultation meeting on the creation of a new walking trail downtown was to allow for shared usage. The June 19 meeting discussed the town's plan for a non-motorized trail on the abandoned rail line, all within the town of Digby's boundaries.
The town has submitted a second application to the Department of Natural Resources for a letter of authority over the trail after their first request was denied in 2012.
Several people in attendance at the meeting were regular ATV drivers. Keith Comeau, president of the Digby County ATV Club, was one such of the people who spoke.
"The town has a lot to offer and the ATVs have a lot to offer the town," he said, adding the club always surveys trails and reports any issues found and also supports multi-use trails, like the one behind Digby's Superstore.
The ATV club's secretary Mark Durkee agreed, saying, "great things are happening because of the money ATV-ers spend on tourism in New Brunswick and the United States."
Another concerned Digby resident, who resides in Digby South, speaks about his hope for shared access throughout all of Digby's downtown area.Digby town councillor Mike Bartlett answered these points, asking, "Would one lane motorized be better than nothing at all?"
He was answered with a resounding yes.
CAO Tom Ossinger then took a moment to clarify that this project has been in progress since the town's first application in 2011 and that a letter of authority is necessary for the town to begin any work on the trail.
"We recognize things have changed since 2011. The town has always wanted to include ATV clubs, but there are challenges," he said. "If we aren't able to obtain a letter of authority, this trail will remain as it is now: unmanaged."
Bob Powell, Recreation Manager for the Digby Area Recreation Commission, clarified that the non-motorized section of this project had come from conversations in 2012 when the ATV club said they didn't need access.
"I don't think it was ever anyone's intention to exclude ATVs. Everyone has agreed it should be shared-use, but there would have to be some limitations," he said.
All comments from those who spoke at the meeting were recorded and will be included as part of the town's application to DNR for the letter of authority.
Published: Jun 20, 2017 at midnight
Updated: Sep 30, 2017 at 4:38 a.m.
FacebookTwitterMore
Keith Comeau, president of the Digby County ATV Club, addressed Digby Town Council and spoke of the many benefits ATV-accessible towns reap from ATV users buying lunch and shopping around.
DIGBY, N.S, – The resounding answer from the public attending Digby town council’s public consultation meeting on the creation of a new walking trail downtown was to allow for shared usage. The June 19 meeting discussed the town's plan for a non-motorized trail on the abandoned rail line, all within the town of Digby's boundaries.
The town has submitted a second application to the Department of Natural Resources for a letter of authority over the trail after their first request was denied in 2012.
Several people in attendance at the meeting were regular ATV drivers. Keith Comeau, president of the Digby County ATV Club, was one such of the people who spoke.
"The town has a lot to offer and the ATVs have a lot to offer the town," he said, adding the club always surveys trails and reports any issues found and also supports multi-use trails, like the one behind Digby's Superstore.
The ATV club's secretary Mark Durkee agreed, saying, "great things are happening because of the money ATV-ers spend on tourism in New Brunswick and the United States."
Another concerned Digby resident, who resides in Digby South, speaks about his hope for shared access throughout all of Digby's downtown area.Digby town councillor Mike Bartlett answered these points, asking, "Would one lane motorized be better than nothing at all?"
He was answered with a resounding yes.
CAO Tom Ossinger then took a moment to clarify that this project has been in progress since the town's first application in 2011 and that a letter of authority is necessary for the town to begin any work on the trail.
"We recognize things have changed since 2011. The town has always wanted to include ATV clubs, but there are challenges," he said. "If we aren't able to obtain a letter of authority, this trail will remain as it is now: unmanaged."
Bob Powell, Recreation Manager for the Digby Area Recreation Commission, clarified that the non-motorized section of this project had come from conversations in 2012 when the ATV club said they didn't need access.
"I don't think it was ever anyone's intention to exclude ATVs. Everyone has agreed it should be shared-use, but there would have to be some limitations," he said.
All comments from those who spoke at the meeting were recorded and will be included as part of the town's application to DNR for the letter of authority.
GRAND OPENING Of the Multi-Use Trail Bridge Saturday, September 29
GRAND OPENING Of the Multi-Use Trail Bridge Saturday, September 29 at 11am. Going to meet on the Digby side of the Bridge, if coming by car the Flat Iron Road would be the best bet as you can walk up the service road to get to the rail bed and there is parking along side of the road by the power station, hope to see everyone there
The Digby County ATV Club had a fundraising run February 4th 2018 for a local cancer fighter Jordan Morgan, 41 people and their machines showed up in not so good weather and raised $1020, we want to thank everyone who came out for that run and we also wish Jordan Morgan the very best in his fight.
December 3 2017 Garbage cleanup on the rail bed from the 101 to Bloomfield. 3.5 TONNES was collected, we like to think we are making a little difference a little bit at a time. Thanks for Jonathan Riley for getting this together and thanks to the group of awesome people who came out.
ALEX FRANKLAND PRESENTING DIGBY CLUB MEMBER JIMMY GATES WITH A CHEQUE FOR $12,354 FROM THE LATE "FRANCES "SANDY" RICE. IT WAS A VERY GENEROUS DONATION THAT WILL GO ALONG WAY FOR MAINTENANCE AND BUILDING OF OUR MULTI - USE TRAILS. IT IS AWESOME THAT SOMEONE WOULD DO THIS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF A SPORT THAT WAS PART OF THEIR LIFE. THANK YOU SANDY, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE DIGBY COUNTY ATV CLUB IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED AND WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
A BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE AND STORES THAT SOLD ATVANS TICKETS FOR THE CLUB, IT IS A GOOD FUNDRAISER FOR THE CLUB AND IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE CLUB AT THE NEXT MEETING SO BE THERE TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS :)
NEXT MEETING IS MARCH 30
THERE IS GOING TO BE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE CLUB AT THE NEXT MEETING SO BE THERE TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS :)
NEXT MEETING IS MARCH 30
Club member JJ Scott presenting Tyler Handspiker from Versatile Excavation with a appreciation of thanks for their Generous Donation on the Clubs By-Pass Trail from back in November, Where he and his Co-worker Tyler Henshaw put in a lot of time and work to make the trail safer for all users. The hard work and generous donation is greatly apprecated by all of those who use the trail, THANK YOU
The Digby ATV Club would like to thank Club Member Alan Ross for taking over the task of Donating $250, on behalf of the club, to the Christmas Daddies that was held on Dec 4th in Digby. It is good to see the members participating in activities that club supports.
Digby ATV Club President, Keith Comeau and Treasurer, Jack Wright presenting Special Constable Richard Parry with a $200 Donation for the Town of Digby's Crosswalk Flag Program. The Digby ATV Club fully supports the Towns Crosswalk Safety program