Two decades worth of work on the Grand Forks city trails finally bore fruit as the trails were officially opened last Saturday.
The ceremony was opened by three contingents of Grand Forks Pipes and Drums playing down the converging trails to the new pavilion near the black train bridge.
“I believe the trails are a connection between communities that take the traveler close to the environment,” said longtime trail enthusiast and city councillor Chris Moslin.
“This serves two functions; it gets the traveler from one community to the other and strengthens the bonds between the communities.”
Mayor Brian Taylor gave credit to those who put in the time for the project.
“I really am humbled by this project, this has taken Chris (Moslin) and George (Longden) and a whole variety of other people 20 years since the rail was taken out and they had a dream that they could connect the city with trails,” Taylor said.
George Longden, president of the Grand Forks Trails Society pointed to all the new features that the trail brings to the city.
“There’s paved trail of cement all the way to the highway, there’s new decking and railing and a new pathway that goes all the way to the community gardens,” Longden said.
“There’s bike lanes along Kettle River Drive for the first time.”
Longden thanked the many sponsors and supporters of the project including the city, the Trans Canada Trails Foundation, the provincial and federal government and others.
Jim Bishop, from the Trans Canada Trails Foundation, attempted to give a snapshot of where the trail movement was at in the country as a whole.
“Today we’re over 73 per cent complete from sea to sea to sea,” said Bishop “In terms of kilometers, which has a bit more impact, we have 17,000 kilometres done.”
The black train bridge itself was renamed the Darrell J. Priede bridge, dedicated to the Canadian army photographer that was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.
The Priede family attended the event and it was an emotional dedication.
“Even though Darrell was based out east he always called Grand Forks home,” John Priede, Darrell’s father, said. While in Grand Forks, Darrell took a photo of the bridge for an assignment. “I know Darrell is looking down on us smiling proudly to be honoured by the place he called home.”
Members of the 39 Engineering Squadron were on hand to dedicate the plaque.