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The two "Download Files" prepared in February of 2022 concern the Pee Wee Hill Trail issue.
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June 6, 2022 Delegate presentation to City Council re: the Pee Wee Hill Trail(s) issue:
My name is Keith Lay. I live in Porter Creek. I am here as an Active Trails Whitehorse Association associate concerning the Pee Wee Hill alternate trail.
Despite what the Trail Development Policy says about new trail construction, the building of the alternate Pee Wee Hill trail defies logic, reverses without appropriate consultation a previous City commitment with regard to the original trail, and does not follow the requirements concerning new trail construction mentioned in various City plans.
Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan actually gave hope that the City would honour the commitment it made in 2017 to improve the Pee Wee Hill trail, as it suggested that “trail improvements” would be made to the Pee Wee Hill, Crocus Ridge and Heartbreak Hill trails.
There was no clear statement that “trail improvements” might involve new trail construction in the Pee Wee Hill area, an action that in 2017, the City said would be unsustainable.
However, in September of 2021 the City did a complete about-face and built a new “switchback trail” adjacent to the Pee Wee Hill trail with the help of the Contagious Mountain Bike Club, without consulting those who were aware of the 2017 commitment. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.) The City simply ignored its previous commitment demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of what constitutes proper process.
Park Management will argue that the Trail Development Policy allows it to build new trails without notification, if they are 500 metres or less in length.
However, surely the City is aware that the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan says that in areas of intensive recreation, “New trails may [only] be considered where a substantial need can be demonstrated and impacts on other users’ safety and enjoyment can be minimized.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 p. 19)
The City built the new trail in an area of intensive recreation without first providing the public with the required information that would demonstrate adherence to this Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan directive.
Again this demonstrates a lack of proper process. It also makes one question why we develop such plans only to see them ignored when it is convenient to do so.
Action #12 of the 2020 Trail Plan, says that the City, “In collaboration with Strategic Communications [is to] provide communication updates to highlight trail initiatives throughout the community, such as City Trail Crew projects, approved trail development projects, and other trail related initiatives.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000 p. 27)
The new Pee Wee Hill “switchback trail” initiative certainly qualified as one that should have been communicated to the public, but this was not done, as apparently there were no “set [timelines] for this initiative,” the result being that no communication update was given to the public. (Quote from a Parks Oct. 27/2021 email to ATWA.)
Of course, this does not explain why the Parks department could not have provided the update. After all, the 2020 Trail Plan’s “What We Heard Report” mentions the necessity to “improve communication of new trails to public and user groups.”
Regrettably, this gives the impression that the 2020 Trail Plan’s Guiding Principle of Community Engagement, which makes the commitment that the community will be involved “throughout the planning, management, construction and maintenance of trails,” [despite their length] is simply a hollow obligation. Once again the lack of proper process is demonstrated.
Strategy 2.2.1 of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan also calls on the City to “Implement an inclusion strategy to increase opportunities for, and invite full participation of all residents where feasible” in the implementation of the plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 Strategy 2.2.1, p. 34.)
It seems the City has either not yet implemented this inclusion policy, or for some reason has determined that it was not feasible to inform the public of its intent to build the new switchback trail.
Park-Wide Management Directive #5 says that the City should “Ensure that new trails development is balanced with maintenance of existing trails.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 p. 14)
Yet, instead of doing the maintenance to the Pee Wee Hill trail that the City announced it would do in 2017, it went ahead and built a new alternate Pee Wee Hill trail in 2021.
Directive #5 of the management plan also says, that “New trails and trail maintenance will be in accordance with the City of Whitehorse Trail Plan and the East Yukon River Trail Plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 p. 14)
The East of the Yukon River Trail Plan provides no indication of any alternate trail proposal adjacent to the Pee Wee Hill trail, so one wonders how this new trail construction is in accordance with that plan.
As the plan was approved by City Council, one would think that any changes to the plan such as a new trail development would require approval by City Council, despite what the 2018 Trail Development Policy says. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 p. 14.)
One of the goals of the Whitehorse Sustainability Plan is for a “Connected, Engaged, and Participatory Community.” It goes on to say that “Citizens [should be] involved in decisions that affect them; [and] act as stewards of the environment; (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/5313/635883751212870000 p. 29.)
These are impressive words, but they are just words if the City does not follow through on its commitments.
In our view, proper process was not followed when the City built the alternate Pee Wee Hill Trail. The public was not given the required and appropriate consultation it deserved.
The result is the construction of an alternate trail, which the City itself said in 2017 would be “not sustainable for the area,” and which has only exacerbated maintenance and safety concerns, added to the myriad of trails in the immediate area, and done little if anything to “allow a wide range of users to access the trail networks in these areas in all seasons,” which the Trail Plan says was the main goal of Action #15. (See p. 30 of the 2020 Trail Plan, and https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.)
ATWA has made suggestions as to the steps that need to be taken in an effort to mitigate the issues that have now been worsened by this construction. We would ask City Council to direct administration to consider those suggestions for implementation this summer.
We would also ask City Council to direct administration to prepare an amendment to the Trail Development Policy that would ensure the public is informed about new proposed trail construction of any length, and be given the opportunity to comment on its appropriateness. The Pee Wee Hill construction has demonstrated that the current policy will lead us into similar situations if not amended.
The approved Trail Plan claims that it will “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding[s], and safety documents associated with City trails.” (2020 Trail Plan, p. 3)
The Pee Wee trail issue clearly demonstrates the need for this integration and we encourage City Council to ensure that administration does this sooner rather than later.
Thank you,
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
Whitehorse Trails and Greenways Committee Members Meeting
Thursday April 20, 2017
4:45 pm – 6:15 pm
Sport Yukon Building – Boardroom #1
MINUTES1.0 Welcomed, signed in - Marc
4.0 Peewee Hill Trail Update
My name is Keith Lay. I live in Porter Creek. I am here as an Active Trails Whitehorse Association associate concerning the Pee Wee Hill alternate trail.
Despite what the Trail Development Policy says about new trail construction, the building of the alternate Pee Wee Hill trail defies logic, reverses without appropriate consultation a previous City commitment with regard to the original trail, and does not follow the requirements concerning new trail construction mentioned in various City plans.
Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan actually gave hope that the City would honour the commitment it made in 2017 to improve the Pee Wee Hill trail, as it suggested that “trail improvements” would be made to the Pee Wee Hill, Crocus Ridge and Heartbreak Hill trails.
There was no clear statement that “trail improvements” might involve new trail construction in the Pee Wee Hill area, an action that in 2017, the City said would be unsustainable.
However, in September of 2021 the City did a complete about-face and built a new “switchback trail” adjacent to the Pee Wee Hill trail with the help of the Contagious Mountain Bike Club, without consulting those who were aware of the 2017 commitment. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.) The City simply ignored its previous commitment demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of what constitutes proper process.
Park Management will argue that the Trail Development Policy allows it to build new trails without notification, if they are 500 metres or less in length.
However, surely the City is aware that the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan says that in areas of intensive recreation, “New trails may [only] be considered where a substantial need can be demonstrated and impacts on other users’ safety and enjoyment can be minimized.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 p. 19)
The City built the new trail in an area of intensive recreation without first providing the public with the required information that would demonstrate adherence to this Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan directive.
Again this demonstrates a lack of proper process. It also makes one question why we develop such plans only to see them ignored when it is convenient to do so.
Action #12 of the 2020 Trail Plan, says that the City, “In collaboration with Strategic Communications [is to] provide communication updates to highlight trail initiatives throughout the community, such as City Trail Crew projects, approved trail development projects, and other trail related initiatives.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000 p. 27)
The new Pee Wee Hill “switchback trail” initiative certainly qualified as one that should have been communicated to the public, but this was not done, as apparently there were no “set [timelines] for this initiative,” the result being that no communication update was given to the public. (Quote from a Parks Oct. 27/2021 email to ATWA.)
Of course, this does not explain why the Parks department could not have provided the update. After all, the 2020 Trail Plan’s “What We Heard Report” mentions the necessity to “improve communication of new trails to public and user groups.”
Regrettably, this gives the impression that the 2020 Trail Plan’s Guiding Principle of Community Engagement, which makes the commitment that the community will be involved “throughout the planning, management, construction and maintenance of trails,” [despite their length] is simply a hollow obligation. Once again the lack of proper process is demonstrated.
Strategy 2.2.1 of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan also calls on the City to “Implement an inclusion strategy to increase opportunities for, and invite full participation of all residents where feasible” in the implementation of the plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 Strategy 2.2.1, p. 34.)
It seems the City has either not yet implemented this inclusion policy, or for some reason has determined that it was not feasible to inform the public of its intent to build the new switchback trail.
Park-Wide Management Directive #5 says that the City should “Ensure that new trails development is balanced with maintenance of existing trails.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 p. 14)
Yet, instead of doing the maintenance to the Pee Wee Hill trail that the City announced it would do in 2017, it went ahead and built a new alternate Pee Wee Hill trail in 2021.
Directive #5 of the management plan also says, that “New trails and trail maintenance will be in accordance with the City of Whitehorse Trail Plan and the East Yukon River Trail Plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 p. 14)
The East of the Yukon River Trail Plan provides no indication of any alternate trail proposal adjacent to the Pee Wee Hill trail, so one wonders how this new trail construction is in accordance with that plan.
As the plan was approved by City Council, one would think that any changes to the plan such as a new trail development would require approval by City Council, despite what the 2018 Trail Development Policy says. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000 p. 14.)
One of the goals of the Whitehorse Sustainability Plan is for a “Connected, Engaged, and Participatory Community.” It goes on to say that “Citizens [should be] involved in decisions that affect them; [and] act as stewards of the environment; (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/5313/635883751212870000 p. 29.)
These are impressive words, but they are just words if the City does not follow through on its commitments.
In our view, proper process was not followed when the City built the alternate Pee Wee Hill Trail. The public was not given the required and appropriate consultation it deserved.
The result is the construction of an alternate trail, which the City itself said in 2017 would be “not sustainable for the area,” and which has only exacerbated maintenance and safety concerns, added to the myriad of trails in the immediate area, and done little if anything to “allow a wide range of users to access the trail networks in these areas in all seasons,” which the Trail Plan says was the main goal of Action #15. (See p. 30 of the 2020 Trail Plan, and https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.)
ATWA has made suggestions as to the steps that need to be taken in an effort to mitigate the issues that have now been worsened by this construction. We would ask City Council to direct administration to consider those suggestions for implementation this summer.
We would also ask City Council to direct administration to prepare an amendment to the Trail Development Policy that would ensure the public is informed about new proposed trail construction of any length, and be given the opportunity to comment on its appropriateness. The Pee Wee Hill construction has demonstrated that the current policy will lead us into similar situations if not amended.
The approved Trail Plan claims that it will “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding[s], and safety documents associated with City trails.” (2020 Trail Plan, p. 3)
The Pee Wee trail issue clearly demonstrates the need for this integration and we encourage City Council to ensure that administration does this sooner rather than later.
Thank you,
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
Whitehorse Trails and Greenways Committee Members Meeting
Thursday April 20, 2017
4:45 pm – 6:15 pm
Sport Yukon Building – Boardroom #1
MINUTES1.0 Welcomed, signed in - Marc
4.0 Peewee Hill Trail Update
- - The area was visited by City employees and the proposed trail was
deemed not sustainable for the area. - - Noted that the process on this area began approximately a year and a
half ago and a lot of time could have been saved if the area could have
been scouted by the City earlier. - - The new proposed avenue of widening and lessening the grade on the
existing Peewee Hill Trail is what the City is currently proposing.
Riverdale Community Association Newsletter of April 2017 which mentions Pee Wee Hill.
(See https://riverdalecommunityassociation.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/rca_newsltr17apr20.pdf for the entire newsletter.)
Pee Wee Hill
For many years, the Riverdale Community Association has heard residents' concerns about the Pee Wee Hill trail (the Pee Wee Hill trail leads up to the Hidden Lakes area from the powerline trail behind Hyland Crescent). These concerns have been centred around the trail being too slippery, particularly in winter and in the late spring; and potential trail user conflict between the different users accessing the trail. As a result of these concerns, Riverdale Community Association (RCA) explored a number of options, including installing an alternative path up to the top of Pee Wee Hill. The RCA recently learned that this option has been rejected by the City.
The City's preference is that the Pee Wee Hill trail be regraded and widened to improve accessibility for users, and access up Pee Wee Hill for firetrucks. This was requested by the City Fire Department in order to reach wildland fires in the greenbelt more easily.
The RCA will continue working with the City to ensure that there is adequate access for fire trucks and to address trail safety and use. We would like to hear from Riverdale residents on your thoughts on the Pee Wee Hill trail. Please let us know where you have challenges, and what you think the best solutions might be. You can email us with your suggestions or any questions at: riverdale.c.a@gmail.com.
(See https://riverdalecommunityassociation.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/rca_newsltr17apr20.pdf for the entire newsletter.)
Pee Wee Hill
For many years, the Riverdale Community Association has heard residents' concerns about the Pee Wee Hill trail (the Pee Wee Hill trail leads up to the Hidden Lakes area from the powerline trail behind Hyland Crescent). These concerns have been centred around the trail being too slippery, particularly in winter and in the late spring; and potential trail user conflict between the different users accessing the trail. As a result of these concerns, Riverdale Community Association (RCA) explored a number of options, including installing an alternative path up to the top of Pee Wee Hill. The RCA recently learned that this option has been rejected by the City.
The City's preference is that the Pee Wee Hill trail be regraded and widened to improve accessibility for users, and access up Pee Wee Hill for firetrucks. This was requested by the City Fire Department in order to reach wildland fires in the greenbelt more easily.
The RCA will continue working with the City to ensure that there is adequate access for fire trucks and to address trail safety and use. We would like to hear from Riverdale residents on your thoughts on the Pee Wee Hill trail. Please let us know where you have challenges, and what you think the best solutions might be. You can email us with your suggestions or any questions at: riverdale.c.a@gmail.com.