Active Trails Whitehorse Association (ATWA)
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                                                                              CITY  PLANNING

Link to City webpage with various parks and neighbourhood plans
http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-building-services/plans-and-implementation

City Sustainability Plan: Council approved an updated Plan in May 2015. whitehorse.ca/sustainabilityplan

Information and a downloadable pdf of the 2007 City of Whitehorse Parks and Recreation Master Plan:

http://whitehorse.ca/departments/recreation-and-facility-services/programs-events-services-/2007-parks-and-recreation-master-plan

Information on the Regional Park Plan and the Schwatka Lake Area Plan can be found under Issues, City Parks Planning.

Information on and downloadable pdfs of the Riverdale Neighbourhood Plan and the East of the Yukon River Trail Plan can be found under Issues, EYR Trails. Excerpts and links are also at the bottom of the current page.


Parks and Public Open Spaces Bylaw

This new bylaw was approved by City Council in July 2015. Background information can be found under Archive.
http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/bylaw-services/parks-and-public-open-space-bylaw

City of Whitehorse - Town Hall meetings:
http://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/town-hall-meetings
City Council hosts a series of Town Hall meetings for residents of the City of Whitehorse, to improve understanding of the unique issues affecting neighbourhoods and hear directly from residents about the issues affecting them.  City advertisements in your local newspapers will give you the time, date, and place of the next meeting. 
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City Plans related to trails:

Below are excerpts from the City of Whitehorse "Official Community Plan" (OCP), the 2010 Riverdale Neighborhood Plan, and the 2007 Trail Plan.  These documents can be accessed at the City's website:  www.whitehorse.ca/trails
 
Excerpt from: Whitehorse 2010 Official Community Plan,

http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=728
(last three paragraph, page 76):

18.5 Motorized recreation

“Many residents of Whitehorse enjoy motorized recreation, such as ATVs and snow machines.  However, not all residents appreciate motorized vehicles on local walking and skiing trails.  To avoid conflict between motorized and non-motorized trail users, the City Parks & Recreation Master Plan and Trail Plan recommend the idea of “out and away” trails.  These trails would be designated for motorized use, allowing those residents routes to get away from the local green space and into the larger hinterland, where they will not be a nuisance to non-motorized users.”

18.5.1  “Where feasible, consideration shall be made to separate multi-use trails (which accommodate motorized and non-motorized recreation) from non-motorized trails.  Future multi-use trail development shall avoid environmentally sensitive areas wherever possible.”

18.5.2  The trail Plan recommends the creation of a map of “out and away” trails for motorized recreation vehicle usage.  This map shall be designed to strongly discourage the use of all terrain vehicles on non-motorized trails and in environmentally sensitive areas.”

Excerpt from:  2010 Riverdale Neighborhood Plan, 

http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=4648

Section 1.5.3, Questionnaire outcome, (seventh paragraph, p.9):

“Motorized recreational vehicles (ATVs, snowmobiles) were identified as a major point of contention in the community. Many feel disturbed by motorized activity and identify it as a safety issue, particularly in regards to children. The consensus seems to be that laws regarding these vehicles are not being respected and must be more stringently enforced.”

“Furthermore, trails need to be strongly designated as motorized or non-motorized. Many also expressed concern regarding the erosion of trails, and general environmental damage caused by these vehicles.”

Excerpts from: 2007 Trail Plan

http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=246

6.1 Priority Issues (second paragraph, p. 19)

Trails-specific

·         Designate non-motorized trails near neighbourhoods

·         Separate motorized and non-motorized uses, or coexist with respect

·         Do not limit motorized use

·         Need clearer trail hierarchy and linkages                        

·         Trails are essential links between community facilities and points of interest                                   

·         Increasing level of conflict between trail users                                                                                                        

·         There are seasonal concerns with use, maintenance, etc                                                                                      

·         Certain well-used trails should be designated as “core” trails

·         Trails maintenance, safety are very important issues; more coordinated effort needed between jurisdictions, departments

·         Recognize that resources for development, maintenance arelimited for what has proven to be a huge network of trails

Parks & Open Space

·        
Create designated greenbelts around existing neighbourhoods that are protected from development

·         Increase protection of environmentally-sensitive areas

·         Greenbelt protection and trails go hand-in-hand

·         Fire protection and safe access/egress are increasing concerns

7.1 The Basic Links (first paragraph, p. 22)

Before getting down to the detail of individual trail designation, it is important to view the entire trail system conceptually as a series of nested connections. …

First, there is a need to connect people to places within their neighbourhoods …

Second, there is a need to connect neighbourhoods to each other and to facilities which serve more than one neighbourhood, such as schools. …

Third, there is a need to interconnect the various City parts as a whole. …

encourages healthy lifestyles. Destinations needing access via City-wide connectors include Yukon College, the Canada Games Centre, etc.

Fourth, again on the City-wide level, there is a need to encircle all of the neighbourhoods and destinations with a loop trail. This outer ring trail allows motorized connections between neighbourhoods and applicable destinations at a distance far enough away from neighbourhoods to lessen the chances of user conflict. It also allows the more adventurous non-motorized users a more extensive perimeter loop trail, taking them far from their own neighbourhoods.

Lastly, there is a need for escape routes, trails which allow residents to leave the limits of the City entirely. These are the “getting the heck out of Dodge” trails which facilitate escape from urban form and connect the City to a broader network of trails and destinations beyond its boundaries. It is particularly important that motorized users have appropriate urban/rural interface routes which allow them the opportunity to recreate at distance from built-up areas.

“8.2  Designations for Multiple Use Trails”    (third paragraph, page 25)

“Neighbourhood Trails -  majority of trails within a designated distance from established or new neighbourhoods; maximum 500 m distance dictated by geography, trail conditions – trails one might use on an evening ½ hour dog walk.”

“City Trails (Non-motorized) - major trails of City-wide importance, key inter-neighbourhood connectors or urban / rural interface trails (trails that lead beyond City limits).”

“City Trails (Motorized) – major trails of City-wide importance, key inter-neighbourhood connectors or urban/rural interface trails (trails that lead beyond the City limits); these trails are specifically designed and designated to allow motorized traffic.”

“Hinterland trails – trails beyond the designated distance from neighborhoods, usually non-motorized but may accommodate minor motorized use.”

“Trails to be Abandoned – trails and trail sections to be decommissioned & reclaimed or rerouted for safety, habitat protection or other reasons.”