Brock Trail Committee highlights progress on John Taylor Park, solar lighting and trail expansion

The Brock Trail has seen steady progress on several elements over the past year, with major progress at John Taylor Park, new solar lighting and a trail extension among the key highlights in the Brock Trail Advisory Committee’s (BTAC) annual report.

BTAC Chair Larry Zylstra will present the annual report to Brockville’s General Committee at their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026.

According to the report, the BTAC’s largest accomplishment over the past year was completing a fundraising campaign to fund improvements to the John Taylor Park, having raised $81,000 through cash and in-kind donations.

Engineering work for the park improvements has already been completed and contracts have been awarded for a new fence, walkways, a viewing area, bench pads and Corten steel figures.

BTAC says the construction phase is already underway, noting that concrete has been poured for the viewing area and path poured with reinforced bases prepared for the Corten figures. As an added aesthetic feature, large rocks have also been placed for a plaque and additional seating.

Another milestone that occurred over the past year was the securing of funding for the implementation of solar lighting along the Brock Trail between Cedar Street and Church Street. According to the report, the project received $4,000 from the Brockville Legacy Grant Fund, with the committee currently looking to install three to five lights and standards along the segment.

In their report, the BTAC also notes that the proposed extension of the Brock Trail from the railway tunnel to Park Street is now essentially ready for construction seeing as engineering work has been completed, funding has been secured, and the project is described as “shovel ready.”

The BTAC said they are currently planning for future expansion of the trail network, including additional solar lighting between Parkedale Avenue and Laurier Avenue, from Laurier to Centennial Avenue, and underneath the Kingston Bridge and CN rail viaduct.

Longer-term plans for the Brock Trail include connecting the North Gorge from the Legion ball field to Stewart Boulevard and exploring additional connections toward Ferguson Falls, Perth Street, Ormond, Bartholomew, North Augusta and Oxford Avenue.

The BTAC shared that they have begun research and discussion toward a five- to 10-year strategic plan for the Brock Trail with potential opportunities including revisiting winter trail use for skiing, re-wilding sections of the trail, developing a historical theme around the mills along Buell’s Creek, and improving outdoor activities.