Congratulations to the Hydrocut Trails Committee and Waterloo Cycling Club on receipt of $15,000 from Canada Healthy Communities Initiative to support trail expansion in the Waterloo Region!
The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative is a $31 million investment from the Government of Canada to transform public spaces in response to COVID-19. The Healthy Communities Initiative provides funding to a broad range of organizations, including local governments, charities, Indigenous communities and non-profits, for projects, programming and services that help communities create safe and vibrant public spaces, improve mobility options, and provide innovative digital solutions.
Building Trails, Building Community: The Hydrocut 'Trails for All' Expansion Project
The Hydrocut Trails for All Expansion directly responds to the HCI theme of safe and vibrant spaces. In response to significant new entrants into mountain biking at The Hydrocut, the desired outcomes from this project are to develop new low-risk, high-excitement trails that allows cyclists of all ages and abilities to build skills and progress their abilities. Given the increase in ridership over the past year, quickly constructing additional novice-level trails will dramatically improve the user experience, and help to retain participants, even once other indoor activities have restarted post-COVID.
The Trails for All Expansion will consist of 1.1 kilometres of trail, built to provide optional challenges along a circular loop. Riders will be able to repeat the loop, quickly mastering progressive elements. This new trail will connect with existing trail infrastructure to access trailhead parking on Snyder’s Road, and recently constructed intermediate trails (please map of existing trail system below which highlights the location of the proposed trail expansion).
Funding from HCI will ensure that this trail is built more quickly (Fall 2021) than would be otherwise possible. The trail built using this funding will be a permanent feature of The Hydrocut, serving to build the mountain biking community for decades to come. Funds to develop this project are spent on materials, equipment rentals, and support for our
volunteer labour force to engage in trail construction.
The Hydrocut Trails for All expansion represents a long-term investment in sustainable physical infrastructure that will serve to attract and develop social infrastructure around healthy living, accessing outdoor activities, and improve social cohesion.
This new build is made possible by an agreement with Arriscraft Canada to build trails on their property.
The Collaborative Grant Writing Team
Submission of this funding bid was a joint effort of:
Peter Johnson (Waterloo Cycling Club and Hydrocut Trails Committee Volunteer, and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management, and Fellow, Balsillie School of International Affairs, at the University of Waterloo),
Brent Ellis (Chairman & Treasurer, Hydrocut Trails Committee),
Matt Luckhardt (Member, Hydrocut Trails Committee),
Andy Cox (Member, Hydrocut Trails Committee, and Owner, King Street Cycles), and
Kelsey Johansen (Lecturer, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies in the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo, and Chair of the Trails Research Hub).
To support this application, Kelsey assisted with writing and editing sections of the application, including those pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion, community engagement in project design and delivery, and community outreach. Additionally, she developed templates for community-based organizations, regional and industry stakeholders, and local government to use in drafting letters of support for the proposed project and the overarching work of the Hydrocut Trails Committee.
You can read the official announcement of the Round 2 Organizations awarded Canada Health Communities Initiative Funds here: https://communityfoundations.ca/initiatives/chci/
Get In Touch
If your organization would like support with writing a grant application or funding bid, please email the Trail Research Hub at: TheTrailResearchHub@gmail.com.