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Featured Trail Builder
 

Bob Gould, TATA

Name of Trail?
Short Line Railbed Trail (Colchester portion 25km)

Name of Trail Association? 
Tatamagouche Area Trails Association 

Location of Trailhead?

The trailhead is located west of Tatamagouche, HWY 6  (Other access points include the big parking lot at Creamery Square in the Village of Tatamagouche, Sutherland Steel Mill Museum in Denmark, as well as 7 or 8 road crossings.) 

Number of Kilometres?
  There is a total of 117km of trail all
together.

Year Trail Planning Began?
  Colchester Trails Association was started in 1998 and in May 2008 the name was changed to Tatamagouche Area Trails Association.   

Year Trail Construction Began?
Repair and maintenance of the trail started prior to 1998.

Year Trail Opened?
Actually, the trail was used as soon
as the trains ceased to use it in the
1970s. Colchester Trails Association
began managing the trail in 1998.    

Trail Website?
No

How long have you been involved in trail development in Nova Scotia?
I have been involved in trail development since 2006.
 
Are you still involved in the trail
movement?
Yes, I volunteered to be the Treasurer
of Tatamagouche Area Trails Association and have also inherited the role of Secretary as well.

Why did you decide to become involved?
I always enjoyed using the trail. I used to ATV and snowmobile two or three times a year, and now like to snow-shoe, walk, bike, and cross-country ski when the opportunity arises. I first became involved when I was invited
by a neighbour to a trail meeting for
the Colchester trails Association. I was
involved in the decision to change the
name to Tatamagouche Area Trails
Association and have been an active volunteer ever since.
 
What do you feel was your biggest success and why?
I feel my biggest accomplishment was repairing a very large bridge west of Tatamagouche. This 100 year old bridge was damaged from ice and erosion. The centre pier had deterior
-ated and eroded and needed
immediate attention so we hired a
contractor.  We also researched and contracted an engineering package that included services of a diver. This was an extensive project that included digging out the old stone that had crumbled and putting up new concrete forms. Once the centre pier was completed we continued on with the knowledge we had gained and contracted the repair of the other two piers the following summer.

What challenges have you faced
and how did you overcome them?
We took on a project to apply crusher dust to 2 ½ kilometres of the Butter Trail and found that applying for and being awarded funding is one of the biggest challenges facing trailbuilders. There is a lot to learn about obtaining funding for trail development and maintenance. I had to find out where to apply, how to fill out the paperwork properly as well as gather all of the required documents. I also had to learn what could be reimbursed, such
as a portion of the HST paid.  Applying
for funding is an involved process but
was worth it in the end, because we
received a lot of positive feedback from trail users in wheelchairs and bikers.

What do you feel are the best features of your trail?
Our trail is full of beautiful scenery. There are birch trees, open fields, beaver dams, ponds, brooks, rivers and historical sites. Some of the historical sites include the Sutherland Steam Mill Museum, the Tatamagouche Creamery, remains of
Ship Building slips, and ancient
Acadian and First Nations Burial
Grounds.  Just west of TATA’s section is the Wallace Bridge, which contains a section that was designed to swing to let sailing ships pass. Another great feature is that this trail is a multi-use trail that accommodates a large number of trail users, such as walkers, hikers, horses, off highway vehicles, snowmobiles, etc.

What part of your trail are you most proud of and why?
The part of my trail I am most proud of
is the Butter Trail. The Butter Trail is
the most used section of the trail and
offers a 4 1/2 km walk through a beautiful scenic village.  This trail passes over an old road, King Street, commonly known as Patterson Wharf Road leading to a 50 by 50 foot patio deck with stone fire place Barbeque, picnic tables, seating and a sand box for the kids to play in. This picnic area was built by the television production, “The Week the Women Went”.

How do you feel your trail has contributed to your community?
This trail is well used by community
members of all ages and abilities. It provides a beautiful scenic walk along the shores of the river, a thruway for local ATVs as well as groomed sections for snowmobilers.  The trail also connects Nelson Park Camping area to the village. 

What is the best part of being a trailbuilder?
The best part of being a trailbuilder is the public feedback.

Why would you encourage others
to be involved in the trail
movement?
I would encourage others to be involved for the personal feeling of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. Also, trails will not last if they are left on their own. They need continuous maintenance such as culvert clearing/replacements, brush cutting, ditching, bridge repairs, resurfacing and signage. 

What advice would you give to other trail builders just starting out?
I would advise trailbuilders to solicit help from someone who knows what is available for funding. I would encourage them to be diligent and do the paperwork and to realize projects require a year and a half of planning before it can be started.  I would also suggest they share the work with the community, hire a lot of local contractors and give everyone a piece of the pie.