WINDSOR, ONT. -- New safety measures have been implemented along the Little River Trail including wayfinding signage using GPS.
The new safety measures were unveiled Thursday by Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk along with community supporters. The wayfinding signage had been installed over the past year to allow for easier navigation of the area.
“I think it provides a level of comfort to people who are walking here because the paths go in many different directors,” Mayor Drew Dilkens said.
The Little River Trail is made up of 6.25 km of asphalt winding through natural greenspace and another 1.6 km of stone trail for people to walk, bike, rollerblade and run through nature. The city says feedback has shown it can be challenging for people to find their way through the trail for both visitors and emergency responders.
"If something were to happen and you needed support or EMS service you can simply find the location on the sign now, call it in and they’ll be able to respond in a very timely and accurate way to people who need help," Dilkens said.
The 17 global positional system (GPS) signs along with 13 wayfinding signs and 12 kiosks have been supported by Team Goran, RE/MAX Realty, Parker DKI and CPC Processing Centre.
The mayor said there has been a plan in place, but when tragedy struck in 2017 it brought the issue to the forefront.
“After watching that situation unfold we said this something we really need to do in order to be able to provide a timeline response to people who need support,” he said.
That year, 75-year-old Sara Ann Widholm was picking up garbage along the Ganatchio Trail when she was physically assaulted.
She later died from those injuries.
“I think she would appreciate these measures that have been put in place just because it adds to safety measures and maybe a sense of security,” said Brandon Taylor who was the pastor at Widholm’s church.
In the event of an emergency providing the north and west coordinates to a 911 dispatcher will give responders the directions they need, the city says. As part of the initiative, parks staff met with EMS and rode the trails in an ambulance to ensure the trails were signed effectively.
Now the city says its trail systems have been growing in popularity as the multi-use trails continue to expand, and that isn’t going to stop any time soon.
"Our City is blessed with tremendous parks and trails that are safe and accessible places of recreation for all residents thanks to significant, strategic and sustained investments like this one by the Mayor and Council,” Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk said.
