Although some local hikers reportedly found the Bendor and Graves Tract in the York Regional Forest closed yesterday, the region is assuring residents that most trails remain open for public use.
The forest is undergoing some sustainable tree harvesting until Feb. 26, which required some of the trails off of the Kennedy Road entrance to be closed while work is underway. But the entire tract will be open for people looking to get outside during the Family Day long weekend.
"All work will be done on weekdays, we are refraining from closing the trails during the weekends, including the Family Day weekend when they are most used," said James Lane, manager of natural heritage and forestry services.
Lane said his staff will try to make sure there is as little confusion as possible during the week but asks hikers to take seriously any posted signs.
"Forestry Services will continue to inspect the site and make adjustments to signage to indicate which trails are open and closed. We recognize the increased use of the York Regional Forest during these times; if you are using the trails, you must respect closed areas and stay clear of equipment and operations," he said.
To ensure everyone's safety, and to make it easier to get equipment in, a section of Kennedy Road has been closed. But parking has been made available south of the road, although space there may be somewhat limited.
The parking lot and entrance to the tract at 17858 McCowan Rd. and the trails in the east portion of the tract will all be open while the harvesting is going on. The dog off-leash area will also remain open.
The tree harvesting is done during the winter while the ground is frozen to minimize the impact on the trails, as well as to wildlife and bird habitat. All of which would be much harder to avoid during the spring and summer.