Waterfront Trail Partners celebrate the launch of the more tourist-friendly Waterfront Trail web site.

ONTARIO PLACE, TORONTO – Planning their next trip is now even easier for cyclists, hikers and tourists from Ontario and around the world, thanks to improvements to the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail web site. In the Annual Waterfront Trail Partners’ Meeting today, Marlaine Koehler, Program Director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust Corporation, officially launched the updated web site, whose improvements include updated, colour Trail maps that can be downloaded for free.

The new capabilities of the an important contribution to attracting tourism to the communities along the Waterfront Trail. In addition to the free, downloadable maps, the site now includes an up-to-date guide to 740 kms of trail along Lake Ontario, including the new eastern extension, plus updated information on what to see and where to stay along the Trail. The Trail is divided into six weekend getaways that will take people from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Brockville.

“The Waterfront Trail and Greenway is a national and provincial resource that serves over six million people--59% of Ontario’s population and 22% of the national population”, says Vicki Barron. Barron, Waterfront Regeneration Trust Executive Director. “It offers people an excellent recreational experience. We are very proud of the enhancements that have been created by our partners and encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the Trail. The Trust’s redesigned website features 90 detailed, full-colour maps of the route to help you plan your own trip”.

The Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail web site at www.waterfronttrail.org received over one million visits during a 5-month period in 2004. The increased information and useability of the improved web site should result in a dramatic increase in visits to the site, user inquiries, and tourism to the communities along the Trail.

Results of the 2002 Waterfront Trail User Survey pushed for the development of a visitor-focussed website. In the Survey, 85% of the cyclists and 77% of all respondents reported were interested in trail-related vacations and were willing to spend all or part of their holiday on the Waterfront Trail.

The web maps are based on information provided by MapArt, www.mapart.com a long-time supporter of the Trail and will be used to create the Trailhead signs that will be installed in 31 municipalities connected by the Waterfront Trail.

Over 45 partners including local municipalities, conservation authorities and community groups meet annually at the Partners Meeting to identify priority actions needed to complete, promote and enhance the Trail, which opened officially in 1995. Ontario Place, www.ontarioplace.com hosted this year’s meeting which focussed on the economic impact of trails.

The Trans Canada Trail Foundation, www.tctrail.ca presented summary findings of its Economic Impact Study. Prepared by Pricewaterhouse, the study calculates the substantial income arising from trail-related investments. In a second session, panalists, Ian Lobb of Steven Bauer Bike Tours, www.stevebauer.com and Mike Lalonde of Cornwall and Seaway Valley Tourism, www.visit.cornwall.on.ca related how communities and businesses benefit from Trail development.

Trust gratefully acknowledges financial support for the meeting provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, www.trilliumfoundation.org.

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Contacts:
Marlaine Koehler, Waterfront Regeneration Trust (416) 943-8080

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