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Kerrio calls on trail committee members not to resign

By COREY LAROCQUE Review Staff Writer

Friday, September 30, 2005 - 02:00 Niagara Falls Review

Local News -

NIAGARA FALLS – People who want trails to be built in Niagara Falls need to work with city council rather than pack it in over the Millennium Trail decision, says Ald. Vince Kerrio.

“You don’t take your ball and bat and go because the game’s not going your way,” Kerrio said. He was reacting to news up to half of the city’s trails and bikeways committee might resign. Some members, including chairman John Anstruther, said they are frustrated by the council decision not to proceed with sections of the 10-year-old Millennium Trail design that would have located a recreational trail behind the yards of some homes. Others said they will stay on to make sure the city delivers on the sections of trail that were approved.

Kerrio said he objects to the way some trail supporters have characterized some politicians as being anti-trail. Everyone on council supports having trails.

That’s why they voted to put proposed expansions of the Millennium Trail into the city’s capital budget, he said.

“We decided to put the residents’ concerns first and the trail second,” he said. “I still think the trail should be built.”

A week ago, council made considerable changes to its plan to develop a 10-kilometre trail running along the hydro canal. In residential sections, the city faced opposition from residents who didn’t want a trail between their back yards and the canal. Council bowed to their pressure and decided to put the trail on city streets rather than build the trail as it was originally proposed.

“We know we have to compromise to get what we want. We don’t just quit when we don’t what we want,” Kerrio said.