Upgrade improves access to KVR Trail
STEVE KIDD - Thu Oct 18th, 2012 1:00pm
Last year, Bill Bennett took a vacation with his wife in the Okanagan and walked a portion of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail.
But at the time, the B.C. minister for community, sport and cultural development didn’t realize he would be back in less than a year, celebrating the reopening of the trail after a provincial grant made it possible to upgrade a section of the popular trail. Coupled with a $35,000 investment from the City of Penticton, provincial funding of $138,694 made it possible to complete a 5.5-kilometre section of the trail, from Vancouver Place to Sutherland Road, and connect it to a section of trail upgraded last year.
“We actually walked this section of the trail,” said Bennett, adding that the grant was more than an investment in a portion of the trail. “It’s part of the government’s attempt to accomplish a couple of things … to get people outdoors and getting some exercise, working on their physical fitness and hopefully having an effect on their health and on their need to draw from the provincial health system.”
The project scope included levelling the trail undulations and upgrading the existing gravel surface to a smoother, more durable surface of recycled asphalt, which significantly enhances accessibility for people with wheelchairs, mobility aids and strollers. The textured surface was also designed to minimize the risk of slip-related injuries, making the trail a more attractive recreation option for people of all ages.
“The Kettle Valley Rail Trail is a much-loved community resource and national treasure,” said Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff. “With the support from this provincial grant, we’ve made improvements to the trail, providing our residents with an ideal destination for physical activity and making our community a healthier place to live.”
From the Penticton Western News