Attention Paid To City Trails

Saturday, March 11, 2006 05:00 AM

A stroll through Cottonwood Island Park on a sunny winter day

At 700,000 strolls, hikes, or jogs per year, trails are the most used recreational infrastructure in our city.

When City Councillors begin final 2006 budget deliberations on Monday, March 20th, they'll be deciding whether to include an additional $68,000.00 in this year's financial plan to increase maintenance on those trails.

Currently, the City's Environmental Services Division budgets $17,000.00 per year towards maintenance on 85-kilometres of trails, which works out to $200.00 per kilometre. And, according to a report prepared by the City's Long Range/Parks Planner, Gerald Christie, that's well below the average spent by a number of similar size communities: Kamloops spends $3,000/km on 200km of trail, Kelowna spends $730/km on 41km, Nanaimo spends $1345/km on 119/km, and Red Deer spends $4013/km on 86km.

Christie says, right now, only the trail areas with the highest use, like Fort George Park and Rainbow Park, receive inspections or vegetation management on a scheduled basis. "The remaining trails throughout the city may be inspected once or twice a year with some vegetation clearing done once a year, on a required basis, or are not maintained at all such as is the case with trails in undeveloped parks, buffers, greenbelts, and small natural parks."

Christie says a number of public surveys and an open house have found significant concern with regards to existing trail maintenance levels. He says, "The major issues identified in an analysis of residents' comments were 'overgrown vegetation, uneven surfacing, litter/dog defecation control, trail sweeping, winter maintenance, and aging or vandalized facilities (signage, outhouses, bollards, etc.)"

City Council has already approved the creation of a Trails Task Force and is now accepting applications for four Community at Large Memberships. (The application deadline is Friday, March 17th, click here for more details) The Task Force will recommend trail upgrade priorities, appropriate trail uses, and research possible funding arrangements through partnerships and sponsorships.

Whether Councillors agree to up the annual maintainence budget to $1000/km will be decided one week from Monday.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 05:00 AM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 11 2006 7:27 AM

Why do we need trails? Is this something we want to spend money on?

Posted by: giterdun on March 11 2006 7:58 AM

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL TRAIL SYSTEM AND WE HAVE SO MANY USERS SEEMS TO BE A " NO BRAINER" .----SO IS YamaDooPolCat !

Posted by: Palopu on March 11 2006 8:30 AM

Some of the money should be spent on bylaw inforcement. Some of these trails should be renamed to Dog Doo Doo Trail, or *** Way. You better keep your eye on the ground when you are walking. Using these trails as dog toilets takes away some of the **Beauty**

Posted by: diplomat on March 11 2006 2:14 PM

"Whether Councillors agree to up the annual maintainence (sic) budget to $1000/km will be decided one week from Monday."

I respectfully suggest that Austin Road West and Glenngary/Croft Road be included in the trail system of the City.

Obviously, these (and many others) get less annual maintenance than the envisioned amount per km for trails, so by including them residents might see at least some return for the taxes they pay.

Will the collection plate have to be passed around at a residents' rally???

Posted by: Percy on March 11 2006 5:02 PM

With all of the outdoor enthusiasts in PG, this makes great sense. I will support the program and encourage expansion of it. Percy

Posted by: diplomat on March 11 2006 6:37 PM

"...I will support the program and encourage expansion of it. Percy "

Thanks, buddy!

Posted by: Percy on March 11 2006 10:14 PM

One has to only use the trails to appreciate them.

We are so fortunate to have wilderness trails within blocks of most neighborhoods. I am thankful and grateful for this convenience. I don't even need to leave town.

I am going to assume that those who can't appreciate any money spent maintaining them probably doesn't use them anyway.

If that's the case, then I understand their lack of support or interest. Percy

Posted by: spencer on March 12 2006 2:14 AM

I enjoy our trail system every chance I get. I wish we had more well kept trails (paved), since alot of PG residents use the ones that are available. Those of you who don't bother (using our trail systems) should give it a try, it's alot of fun, AND SHOULD BE EXPANDED!

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 12 2006 8:53 PM

Doesn't appear to be much disagreement on this subject. Outdoor venues, like raparian habitat, add to the quality of life in PG.
So the City should promote green space, but how far are you willing to go?
Pine Valley Golf no longer has any trees, but the course is still quite playable. The question is should it be turned into housing lots or replanted?
A golf course isn't exactly a trail system, but does Pine Valley add to the quality of life in PG, to the point that it should continue to receive taxpayers support?
The other big green space in town, the PGG&CC, never paid taxes on their course, just the buildings. Should this continue in the new location?

Posted by: Percy on March 14 2006 8:31 PM

Yamadoo. I just recently learned that the trees on a golf course are there for more than just asthetic reasons.

They play a major role in keeping golf balls within the hole you are supposed to be playing on.

Take away the trees and it's a very dangerous place to play. At least if I'm playing.

Learn something new every day. Amazing. Percy