By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) is launching public consultations to help shape the future of a 47-kilometre multi-use trail that would stretch across Essex County along the former Canada Southern Railway corridor.
The proposed CASO Greenway Trail would convert the long-dormant rail line—spanning from Tilbury through the towns of Lakeshore, Essex, and Tecumseh—into a continuous trail for walking, cycling, and active transportation.
The corridor was secured for public use in late 2022 through a multi-partner agreement involving ERCA, the County of Essex, and the municipalities of Tecumseh, Essex, and Lakeshore, with funding support from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
June is Trails Month, and ERCA is marking the occasion by hosting three public open houses to gather community feedback on the trail’s design and development. An online survey is also available until June 30.
In an interview with the Tilbury Times Reporter, ERCA’s director of communications and outreach services, Danielle Stuebing, said the trail project will require significant fundraising and extensive public engagement before construction can begin.
“Preliminary engineering estimates suggest this will be a $14-million project, so we’ll be launching a fundraising campaign through the Essex Region Conservation Foundation in the coming months,” said Stuebing.
She added that accessibility will be a key priority. “We’ll be working closely with the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee to ensure this trail is safe and accessible for everyone, just as we’ve done with previous Greenway developments.”
The open houses will take place June 16 at the Essex Centre Sports Complex, June 17 at the Libro Community Centre in South Woodslee, and June 23 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Comber. Each session runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Stuebing said public feedback will be carefully reviewed and will help shape the final design of the trail. ERCA plans to present the findings to its board this fall.
She also noted that trails like this one offer important economic and tourism benefits, especially for rural areas.
“We’ve heard from businesses near the existing Greenway system that trails have become an important part of their business model,” she said. “And with the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, this trail will be a key part of our region’s cycle tourism network.”
Environmental concerns associated with the conversion are expected to be minimal, she added, with routine brush clearing planned in winter months to avoid disturbing local wildlife.
For more details or to complete the survey, residents can visit: www.essexregionconservation.ca/CASOSurvey.
