Departments - Town of New Glasgow

One of the best ways to enjoy a day in New Glasgow is to take a stroll on our 6km trail system that spans the community, winding along the scenic riverfront. The Samson, Pioneer and Johnny Miles Memorial Trails have been built along old rail line beds that once ran through the town. Today you can run, walk, bike, and roll along these trails, on both the East and West Sides of New Glasgow.

The Samson Trail is where Canada’s oldest locomotive, the Samson, ran and is part of the Trans Canada Trail’s national trail network. Named in honour of New Glasgow's founding and current-day pioneers, the Pioneer Trail includes a gazebo look-off view of Potters Brook and the Charlie Hoegg Kinsmen Covered Bridge. The Johnny Miles Memorial Trail is named in tribute to Boston Marathon winner, the late Johnny Miles. This trail is a short and sweet winding gravel path through light woodland.

With approximately 2,000 people using our trails daily in the peak season, the trail system has become a vital recreational and active transportation asset for all to enjoy. All trails are pet-friendly (please keep your pets leashed and pick up after them) and open year-round with conveniently located washroom facilities and parking.

Municipal Active Living Strategy

In 2006, Nova Scotia launched the Municipal Physical Activity Leadership (MPAL) Program in partnership with municipalities across the province. The MPAL Program was created in response to growing physical inactivity trends in Nova Scotia.

The Town of New Glasgow joined the MPAL program in 2018 and since then, the Active Living Manager has worked with the Province, Town and community to develop 5-year Municipal Active Living Strategies to guide physical activity initiative in new Glasgow. Most recently, pdf Make Your Move New Glasgow: A Strategic Plan to Encourage Simple Movement(15.66 MB) was approved by Town Council on October 20, 2025.

The long-term goal of the Municipal Active Living Strategy is to inspire a cultural shift where simple movement becomes the social norm by enabling and empowering residents to incorporate simple movement into their daily routines.

Programs and Activities

The Town of New Glasgow’s Department of Community Development provides a variety of programs, facilities, and services for the residents of New Glasgow that encourage and support healthy, active lifestyles. Recreation is defined by Recreation Nova Scotia as “the experience that results from freely chosen participation in physical, social, intellectual and spiritual pursuits that enhance individual and community wellbeing.”

Looking for recreational opportunities in our community? Find your way to play at PlayFinder.ca! PlayFinder is a Nova Scotia–based, community-driven platform that makes it easier to discover, access, and manage recreation and sport opportunities. Or visit our Programs & Activities page.