The Railway Trail Project will be holding three public meetings from January 20 to 22 to gather input on what can be improved in Bermuda?s largest park ? the Railway Trail.

All outdoor associations, walkers and people who live near the Railway Trail are invited to the forums which are held whenever changes are made to National Parks.

?As per the requirement of Section 13 of the Bermuda National Parks Act, the Parks Department, in partnership with the Bermuda End-to-End Charity, would like to invite the public to comment on proposals for the improvement of the Railway Trail National Park,? the Parks Department said in a Press release yesterday.

Significant groundwork has already taken place to prepare a long-term management plan for the Railway Trail and the public meetings are the next stage of the project.

The Bermuda End-to-End Charity raised $50,000 for the Project to create a sustainable management plan for the Trail?s protection and enhancement.

In a release yesterday, the charity said the trail was ?an important greenway through the Island?s neighbourhoods and a favourite open space for residents and tourists alike to exercise and enjoy Bermuda?s outdoors?.

End-to End chairman Stephen Davidson said it was vital that everyone make their voices heard.

?Different people know their local parts of the trail better than others,? he said yesterday. ?Some people would love to pave over it. But others say to rip off the tarmac that has already been laid in certain areas.?

All suggestions will be documented and included in the draft management plan that will be presented in the Government approval process, he said.

The Parks Department release added: ?We welcome all who are interested in the trail to come and have your concerns and ideas heard. Consultations will be facilitated by the US-based Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC), staff of the Department of Parks and members of the Bermuda End-to-End Charity.?

RTC is a non-profit Washington DC-based consultant which specialises in the creation of linear parks on disused railway and utility corridors.

In October, Bermuda?s Park Planner Drew Pettit said the most pressing issue is that the trails are joined as one.

?Right now, they?re all separate entities,? Mr. Pettit said in October. ?If we were to link them from one end to the other, have it interpreted and used as safe public access, it could become the backbone which links all our other parks. I know it sounds corny but, it could actually become the crown jewel of our parks system.?

The public meetings will be held at the Visitor Centre of the Botanical Gardens, Paget on:

? Thursday, January 20. Open House from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with presentations from 6 to 7.15 p.m.

? Friday, January 21. Open House from 10 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.

? Saturday, January 22. Open House from 10 to 11 a.m. with presentations at 11 a.m. and 12.15 p.m.