Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) Area D Director Irene Perepolkin proposed paving the Trans Canada Trail linking Grand Forks to Christina Lake as a project for the Community Recreation Program.
The continuous trail from Grand Forks to Christina Lake will be connected to the Trans Canada Trail already in place.
Perepolkin’s project is one of the three applications that the RDKB put forth for the Community Recreation Program.
“Area B and C had a head start because they didn’t have to go through an election,” explained Perepolkin. “Area D’s project application is the third project that RDKB has approved for the grant.”
At the last regional district meeting, prior to the election, the Directors approved the Area C pedestrian crossing and Area B cross-country ski trail. At the inaugural meeting of the regional district after the election, Area D’s paving project was also approved.
Aiding Perepolkin in her proposal, George Longden and former Coun. Chris Moslin, who helped plot the details of the trail.
“The deadline for applications was Dec. 28,” noted Moslin. “(Premier Christy Clark) must of thought it was all well and good, but for every local city in the province, it was actually a real challenge because there was an election and a short deadline.”
Longden added it was important to realize this grant is aimed at targeted funds and projects.
“The government is looking for the development of hard infrastructure, cross-country trails and trails that link communities,” explained Longden. “You can’t just go and apply for them to get your roads paved, for example.”
The enhanced trail will offer views of the river, and the Gilpin Grasslands Park and its range area for California range-horn sheep, before entering Christina Lake.
The aim is to connect a high-profile portion of the Trans Canada Trail to Christina Lake, and to make the trail more stable from weather and use.
It would also be considered motor-free, so ATV and motorcycle use would be discouraged.
The trail is also used as a utility corridor for the FortisBC (formerly Terasen) pipeline southern crossing, as well as Shaw’s fibre optics cables.
Moslin noted that the completion of the Trans Canada Trail in Grand Forks saw a ten-fold increase in community use with the Black Train Bridge and the community gardens.
“Seniors would drive in their cars, park and take out their walkers to walk on the trails,” he said.
The cost for the entire project is estimated to be $1.3 million, and the grant has a maximum of $400,000.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for job creation here,” Moslin pointed out. “If this goes ahead, we’ll be hiring local contractors for metal fabrications for gates and control structures. We’ll be hiring a local contractor who will do the building, surface and subsurface work, and we’ll be hiring a local contractor to do the paving.”
Besides the increase job market, there will also be an economic benefit with the possibility of tours, tubing down the river, and white water rafting at the far end.
“It’s not just building and having it there for people to walk; this can be an economic attractant for the community,” Moslin concluded.
The Grand Forks Community Trails Society will be asking city council for formal support on Feb. 20.
According to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development website, “the $30 million
Community Recreation Program was developed to
address unique challenges faced by communities in the province with respect to meeting their
recreational infrastructure needs.”
The program, introduced by B.C.’s Premier Christy Clark on the last day of UBCM (Union of British Columbia Municipalities) is aimed at investing into local government capital projects that will make communities healthier and more active.
For the application, a municipality can apply for one grant project, while every regional district can apply for three.
According to the Visitor’s Information Centre, the number three request asked, is if there are any trails in Grand Forks.
For more information, contact Moslin at 250-666-1262 or Longden at 250-442-7572.