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Trust provides big bucks for rec infrastructure
Columbia Basin Trust is providing $1.8 million for 38 projects to support a variety of groups and organizations in building infrastructure that encourages active lifestyles in the Basin.
A good chunk of that funding is coming to the East Kootenay. Eighteen projects are receiving $779,600 in Recreation Infrastructure Grants geared toward supporting community efforts to create new or upgrade existing recreation facilities and trails in the region.
Since the program launched in early 2016, the Trust has funded 100 projects with $6.3 million, including 222 kilometres on 43 trails, 36 outdoor facilities like playgrounds and tennis courts and 10 other facilities like riding arenas and gymnasiums. Projects are located in 34 Basin communities. The final intake for the program will open this November.
“Residents have told us they would like the Trust’s help to build stronger, more resilient and more enjoyable communities, and part of this is having the amenities they need to lead active, healthy lifestyles,” said Kindy Gosal, Columbia Basin Trust Director, Special Initiatives. “We’re pleased to see such a positive response to the program, and we’re happy to support these community-based projects that have a lot of the preparatory work done, have commitments for other funding, and have local residents willing to pitch in and make the project work.”
The largest grant regionally is $240,000 for the Village of Canal Flats to build two new dressing rooms for females and referees and construct an accessible entrance and foyer to complete the accessibility of the arena.
The District of Sparwood is receiving $100,000 to develop an outdoor facility for tennis, pickleball, basketball and ball hockey, and add an outdoor ice surface, providing youth, families, seniors and adults with a facility that will benefit the whole Sparwood community in Sparwood Heights.
In Cranbrook, the Wildhorse Cycling Club is getting $11,600 to build two trails to accommodate non-motorized users of the Cranbrook 
.
Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary Club is getting $5,000 to help install bike racks in downtown Cranbrook to encourage active transportation in the community.
And the Cranbrook Snowmobile Club is getting $8,700 to go toward developing a warming shelter for snowmobilers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers in the Lumberton/Moyie River drainage.
The District of Elkford is getting $49,800 to develop a trail along Highway 43 to encourage more people to get out, increasing opportunities for commuter and recreational activities such as bicycling, walking and running.
The Elkford Community Enhancement Society is receiving $60,000 towards its Devonian Playground Project.
The Fairmont Community Association is getting $40,000 to go toward a gravel and asphalt bike and walking path to support off-highway biking and encourage pedestrians in the community.
And the Nature Conservancy of Canada is getting $10,000 to help develop three kilometres of trail to improve accessibility and reduce impacts on the Hoodoo Trail.
The Fernie Trails Alliance will be getting $34,500 towards the Stove Pipe Flow Trail and the Fernie Youth Soccer Association is getting $40,000 toward the Eirin Amundsen Memorial Pavilion Project; the installation of a washroom in the Eirin Amundsen Memorial Pavilion that will enhance usage of the Max Turyk community playing field by local residents.
Invermere’s Summit Trail Makers Society is receiving $17,500 toward the Pedley Ridge and Tarn Trail. That project includes a new hiking trail to Pedley Ridge, east of Invermere, by adding a loop trail that will connect to the existing Pedley Pass Trail. Also add a new one-kilometre trail into a small tarn (Hidden Lake) at the base of Mount Aeneas.
The largest of four grants coming to the Kimberley is $50,000 to the Kimberley Trails Society to develop the second phase of a new trail that links to existing trails, and construct a lower staging area at the Bootleg Mountain Recreation Site.
Kimberley Nordic Club is getting $48,600 to expand trail networks to provide new terrain for skiers and to create a stadium area to teach technique to skiers of all levels and abilities.
The City of Kimberley is getting $31,500 to renew all court surfaces and add new line markings to address the needs for both pickleball and tennis at the Kimberley Outdoor Courts.
And the Kimberley Soccer Association is getting $8,900 to help install washrooms at the existing structure in Kimberley’s Purcell Fields.
And the Elk Valley Disc Golf Association is getting $7,000 toward establishing an 18-hole disc golf course at Wycliffe Regional Park. See separate story.
Read about all the approved projects.
Columbia Basin Trust supports the ideas and efforts of the people in the Columbia Basin. To learn more about the Trust’s programs and initiatives, and how it helps deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the Basin, visit ourtrust.org or call 1-800-505-8998.
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