Welland Recreational Waterway facts for kids
The Welland Recreational Waterway is a water channel in the city of Welland, Ontario, Canada. It's an old part of the Welland Canal that isn't used for big ships anymore. This happened after a new part of the canal, called the Welland By-Pass, was built in the 1970s. Today, the Waterway is managed by the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation. They work to make it a fun place for people living in Welland. Most local people call it the old canal or just the canal.
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What Were the First Ideas for the Waterway?
At one point, there was a plan to turn the bottom of the canal into a road. This road would have been an extension of Ontario Highway 406. However, that idea never happened. Instead, the old canal stayed mostly the same. The goal was to build fun places and tourist spots along its sides.
The plans included ideas for:
- Fishing spots
- Water slides
- Places to rent boats
- Displays about boats and trains from the past
Most of these original plans haven't been built yet. But some of them are now being worked on.
How the Waterway Changed Over Time
The Waterway's original shape has changed a bit since the new By-Pass was built.
The Big Dirt Wall
The biggest change is a large dirt wall that cuts the Waterway in half. This wall is located near Ontario Highway 58A. It was needed because trains needed a long, gentle slope (about 4 kilometers or 2.5 miles) to go under the new canal. This allowed them to reach the Townline Tunnel.
Water Flow and the River
The Welland River flows under the old canal in a special tunnel called an aqueduct. This aqueduct started to have many leaks. To fix this, holes were purposely drilled into the aqueduct. Now, the Welland River downstream gets some water from the canal. Because of this, the water in the northern part of the Waterway flows in the opposite direction. This helps to balance the water going into the river.
New and Old Bridges
The old canal used to have five vertical lift bridges and one railroad swing bridge (Bridge 15). After the canal was moved, two of the old bridges were replaced with new, fixed bridges. Another bridge had its tall towers removed because it would have cost too much to fix. Two more bridges were built in the northern part of the Waterway. Also, a new bridge was built in downtown Welland next to the East Main Street bridge.
The Waterway Today: Fun and Recreation
Today, you can find paths for walking and biking along both sides of the Waterway. These paths are a key part of Welland's network for walking and biking. They offer a safe and nice way to get around the central part of the city.
Merritt Island Path
A very popular section is the path on Merritt Island. This is a long, narrow piece of land that was created when the old canal was built next to the Welland River. Signs along the paths show you where you are and list local attractions. The popular 140-kilometer Greater Niagara Circle Route also runs along the canal. Both local people and tourists use it.
"Go Quietly" By-law
Welland City Councillors made a rule called the "Go Quietly" by-law. This rule stops motorboats from using the Waterway. This means the old shipping canal is now perfect for activities like kayaking, rowing, canoeing, and paddle boating.
Welland Recreational Canal Corporation
The Welland Recreational Canal Corporation helps protect and develop the canal and the land around it. Their board of directors includes three city council members and six citizens. They have started different programs, such as:
- A place to rent canoes and paddle boats
- Many fishing platforms
What's Next for the Waterway?
The Waterway is seen as a very important part of plans to make downtown Welland even better. The Civic Square, which holds the city hall and the library, was built right by the canal. You can find the Welland Recreational Waterway Master Plan online. It shares all the ideas for the canal's future.
Northern Reach Park Idea
In 2012, two groups, Bike Welland and ShortHills Cycling Club, suggested an idea to the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation. They proposed creating a 160-acre natural park along the "northern reach" part of the Welland Canal. This land is in the city and is already used by people for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. It's the only part of the canal in Welland that hasn't been developed yet.
The idea for the Northern Reach Park is to keep the area natural for fun activities and wildlife. It would continue to offer chances for:
- Hikers
- Runners
- Mountain bikers
- Cross-country skiers
- People who love nature
The proposal also mentions that the park could be good for sports tourism. However, it was later heard that the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation might plan to clear the area to build a solar farm. There hasn't been any public discussion about this, and no information is available on their website or in their financial reports.
Images for kids
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View of Merritt Island from the northern reach section of the Welland Canal.
