Smiths Falls heritage committee to explore options for underground foot tunnel

LAURIE WEIR

The old foot tunnel in Smiths Falls is undergoing some scrutiny. 

The Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC) is exploring ways to revitalize the tunnel that runs beneath the train tracks, connecting Victoria Street to Lanark Street.

Jonathon Lee, a new member of the arts council and prospective MHC appointee, raised the issue during the committee’s regular meeting on Jan. 14.

“It’s filled with a lot of graffiti that says things like ‘I love you,’ and ‘Never give up,’ and ‘You are enough.’ There is a lot of really motivational graffiti in there … it’s just a bunch of people in there trying to help each other out,” Lee said.

The tunnel is located in Shawville, one of the first areas annexed by Smiths Falls before the railroad was built.

“It made living there very difficult, logistically,” Lee said, referring to living near the tracks. “This was a cohesive community that someone had a nice vision for. But it’s a bit of an island because there are train tracks running through it. There are no businesses over there, and it’s hard to get on the other side of the tracks.”

Lee suggested gathering input from residents near the tunnel to explore potential ideas for improvement.

“He said the area is beautiful and unique and ‘I think a whole lot could happen there. Where are you ever going to find infrastructure to build a foot tunnel? It’s pretty cool.’”

Lee noted the tunnel’s “neat acoustics,” suggesting it could be ideal for guitar performances or spoken word poetry.

“A Ninja Turtles mural? I don’t know,” he added.

MHC chair Dorothy Hudson asked how Lee would like to proceed. He proposed making Shawville a focus for the committee over the next year and starting with community consultations.

“If we make people love it, then all of a sudden it brings a source of pride,” Lee said. “Let’s not spend money – let’s just take a look.”

Hudson said the committee could explore the area’s historical significance as a starting point.

Committee member Klaas Van Der Meer expressed safety concerns.

“It’s always been known to me as a dangerous place to go. I’ve not walked through there … but there is a lot of graffiti, a lot of riffraff,” he said.

Van Der Meer agreed revitalizing the area could bring attention to it as a “cool place to go” and acknowledged the tunnel’s importance in the community’s past.

“It was a tunnel that served a great need for the community to get across the tracks,” he said. “You were taking your life in your hands trying to cross 12 tracks.”

Town councillor and committee member Dawn Quinn also acknowledged safety issues but supported looking into revitalization options.

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look at it and see what we can do. Maybe we can get enough interest and turn it into something that people would be able to use and feel comfortable there,” she said. “One of the big problems is lighting … if we don’t look at it, nothing will ever happen.”

Van Der Meer suggested the committee consider the Brockville Railway Tunnel as a small-scale inspiration. Built in the 1850s, the 525-metre-long landmark beneath downtown Brockville features LED lighting and draws visitors with its blend of heritage and modern tourism appeal.

“Sometimes, for a lot of kids, it’s a lot safer outside than it is inside,” Lee said. “And that’s why we’re outside at night. That foot tunnel is underground and covered and it may be safe, which is a heck of a place to start from … make it a safe space to hang out.”

Lee said if folks who are using it are part of the plans – authentic ownership, “then let’s see if we can connect those two sides.”

The MHC agreed to explore the tunnel’s history further and revisit the discussion at a future meeting.