By Barb Brouwer
Contributor
Funding for the construction of a new universal trail near Balmoral Road won unanimous approval at the Columbia Shuswap Regional District board table on Jan. 18.
The regional district will sign a sole-source contract with the Shuswap Trail Alliance to provide construction services for the Loftus Lake Fen Trail, for a total cost not to exceed $78,557.
The trail is located 24 kilometres west of Salmon Arm, off Balmoral Road, just before the Alpen Paradies subdivision.
In her Dec. 21 report, Kristina Flackman, community parks and recreation coordinator, provided background on the proposed trail, noting that in May of 2022, a $139,500 application for grant funding from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program was successful. As well, the regional district was approved for $214,000 of Community Works Funds and $40,000 from reserve funding, for a total allocation of $393,500 to construct a universal trail, parking area and dog park along the northeast shore of Loftus Lake in Electoral Area G.
“As the Shuswap Trail Alliance (STA) provides community services with contracted trail maintenance and construction services throughout many electoral areas of the regional district, they are well informed and well positioned to aid the CSRD in the construction of this universal trail,” explained Flackman, noting her request for funding approval was for the universal portion of the trail only.
In the Electoral Area C Parks Master Plan of 2017 it was identified that area residents wanted more flat, accessible walkways along with more linkages between parks and green spaces. The Loftus Fen Trail will be built to accommodate users from the ages of five to 95 within CSRD-owned land along the northeast shore of Loftus Lake, and the STA proposal meets with the master plan objectives
“This trail would potentially tie into the existing larger Balmoral trail system,” wrote Flackman, explaining that the grades in universal trails are lower than typical trails with a smooth, hard-wearing surface. “Staff have pursued the permitting, archaeological requirements, and planning to complete the construction of the trail network.”
The total project budget contains $393,500 in grant, Community Works Funds and reserve funds. The construction fees for services provided by the STA will be paid for with these funds.
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