Rossland’s plans to live up to its recreation reputation, by connecting off-road trails from its downtown to Redstone’s clubhouse, are rolling.
The city has received a $25,000 grant from BikeBC Cycling Infrastructure Partnerships Program to go toward work on the Trail Creek Trail, now known as the Louie Joe Trail, which runs from the corner of Washington Street and Victoria Avenue through the gully all the way to the golf course.
Some of the “trunk connector” was developed last year with about $26,000 from the city’s $40,000 trails budget, but the project reached a standstill when funds were exhausted.
Consultant Stewart Spooner of the Kootenay Columbia Trail Society will be out next week flagging and routing the remainder of the trail that will be cleared and graded next month.
The “enjoyable trail for all ages” does not only act as a off-road connector from downtown to lower Rossland but also highlights the city’s historical Chinese gardens, hence the reason the city decided to rename it after the last Chinese vegetable peddler in town.
“When it was created, the heritage commission was excited about it because it actually opened up the public’s eyes to the Chinese gardens,” said Maturo.
The new trail is part of a larger concept laid out in the Active Transportation Plan, which was received by council in 2009.
The province invested more than $1 million toward 17 cycling infrastructure projects across B.C.