Salisbury, a small town west of Moncton, is almost ready to unveil the project, which is being undertaken with funds from the 2023 ParticipAction Fitness Challenge.
A 1.8 kilometer long, pedestrian-only path will be built, with a bench every 200 meters. The trail is accessible to hikers and strollers and is expected to be completed by the end of October.
“The intent is to provide residents with a better walking experience,” said Austin Henderson, Salisbury’s chief administrative officer.
Salisbury was named Canada's Most Active Community in 2023, winning $100,000 in the health and fitness nonprofit's challenge. To accomplish this, residents participated in more than 70 free public activities and logged more than 10 million minutes of physical activity, according to a news release from ParticipAction.
Salisbury residents and organizations recorded more than 10.4 million minutes of physical activity in June 2023. This photo was taken during the closing ceremony of the competition. (Submitted by Massimo Caracristi)
The city also took part in the 2022 and 2024 challenges, winning a $15,000 provincial award in each, Henderson said. Some of this money also went towards the trail project.
As part of a community survey, residents were asked how they would like to spend the prize money.
“The award was first and foremost a community win and residents were at the heart of this success. So the city wanted to make sure we consulted them on the best project,” he said.
REGARD | Salisbury residents are delighted that the new path is almost finished:
The most active community in 2023 increases the number of steps by extending the trail
Salisbury was awarded $100,000 by ParticipAction as Canada's Most Active Community in 2023. Residents decided to use this money, along with state funds, to expand a local hiking trail. Now the opening is coming up.
The community had a choice of projects such as trail expansion, an outdoor skating rink, an amphitheater, outdoor fitness equipment or a multi-use plaza in the city's Highland Park, Henderson said.
More than 45 percent of the 330 respondents said hiking trail expansion was their first choice.
“The trail and amphitheater were certainly the biggest competitors, but the trail made a noticeable difference,” he said.
After the 1.1-mile extension, the city also plans to create a promenade and trail connection to Salisbury's main street, Henderson says. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)
Henderson said the city then decided to extend its existing trail network from Breamer Street to Parkin Street, a distance of about 1.1 miles.
“This new trail connection will essentially be integrated into the Woodland Trail to extend it to Parkin Street,” an extension of the existing Woodland Trail.
The total cost of the project, including drainage work and benches, is about $450,000, Henderson said.
The funds would be split about a third among all three levels of government, he said.
“A small town that does big things”
Salisbury resident Roz Martin said she appreciates the city listening to its residents.
“This is a growing community,” she said.
Martin said she's excited about a longer trail that will also be accessible to her mother, who uses a walker.
Roz Martin says she's excited about the longer, more accessible trail soon opening in her community. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)
Wendy Pallen, who walks her dogs on the old path every day, is also enthusiastic.
“It will benefit everyone… There are so many people here all the time, so it will be great to have this extension,” she said.
Wendy Pallen contributed to the ParticipAction community fitness challenge by walking her dogs on the ancient trail every day (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)
Salisbury Mayor Rob Campbell said he has lost weight by trying different activities and sports since the 2022 ParticipAction Fitness Challenge.
“Anything anyone asked me to do or anything I saw, I did, just like every other resident.”
Campbell walked 10,000 steps a day, rode horses, cycled, did yoga, danced and also tried to play pickleball, he said.
Salisbury Mayor Rob Campbell says expanding the trail will help the community get out and socialize while also helping them stay active. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)
Overcoming this challenge every June has become something residents eagerly await, Campbell said.
“Every day I would go into a grocery store and people would ask, ‘Where are we today? Where are we? What do i have to do?'”
Spending the money on longer trails creates infrastructure that will benefit generations and can be expanded over time, he said.
It will help the community get out and socialize, while also helping them stay active to defend their title in future years of competition.
“We are a small town that does big things. We will always compete, we will always strive for titles.”
The city said the expanded trail will be completed by the end of October. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)