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Public input sought for regional trails in Powell River area

Plan helps to identify and protect important paths
Trails plan
CHOOSING FAVOURITES: Volunteer trail builder Ron Diprose was one of about 60 people at Powell River Regional District’s regional trails plan public consultation at Powell River Recreation Complex. Chris Bolster photo

Powell River volunteer trail builders applaud Powell River Regional District’s move to develop a regional trails plan, but they say more support is needed to maintain existing trail infrastructure.

Outdoor Recreation Users Group Trail Society president Pat Walsh said the regional district’s consultation meetings are helping to raise awareness about the area’s trail networks.

“We’re extremely pleased to see this process taking place,” said Walsh. “We’re at a stage now that our trails require more leadership.”

The plan will go a long way in fostering greater cooperation, planning and financial support for volunteers, he said.

Developing a regional trails plan was one of four recommendations that came out of the regional district’s 2010 regional parks and green-space plan.

Over the past year, work went into gathering data on all the trails in the region and creating maps. After the maps were compiled, the regional district organized public consultation meetings to gather the public’s thoughts.

“What we are looking for is which trails have the highest use and are most important for people,” said regional district manager of planning Laura Rodden. “That’ll guide which trails need to be protected and maintained into the future.”

Walsh was one of about 60 residents who attended a meeting on Tuesday, May 17, at Powell River Recreation Complex; one of four meetings held throughout the regional district from May 16 to 19.

The meeting afforded Walsh an opportunity to share his thoughts on challenges volunteers face.

“When it comes to further trail development, it is all well and good, but new development needs to come with a maintenance plan,” said Walsh. “Volunteer groups struggle to maintain what we have now.”

A variety of community user groups, including the BOMB Squad, Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS), Powell River ATV Club and Powell River Cycling Association’s Chain Gang, among others, contribute several hundreds of hours annually to trail maintenance.

Ron Diprose, a Chain Gang volunteer who also attended the meeting, said he thought the meetings highlighted the amenities Powell River has in its backcountry.

“There’s a lot of people in this town that have never really been out on some of the trails,” said Diprose. “I know some people who have lived here most of their lives and they didn’t even the know about the Knuckleheads.”

Diprose said the trails add quality of life for residents and attract out-of-town visitors.

“More out-of-town people are becoming aware of what we have,” said Diprose. “It’s not just hikers, mountain bikers and trail runners, but others like horse riders and even ATV groups that have come to ride.”

Walsh pointed out that the vast majority of trails have been built across Crown, forest licence tenure, city and private lands, and are considered unauthorized.

“What should strike people looking at all those maps is all of those trails were created in spite of the system, not because of it,” said Walsh. “If we did that in spite of the system, just think about what we could do with the system working to our benefit.”

Walsh said although trail-maintenance groups have received financial support from the community in the form of donated materials and grants, all too often they are having to reach into their own pockets when work is required.

“We require a change in thinking and need local government to take ownership and leadership with respect to that,” said Walsh. “This is a first step.”

Rodden said the regional district understands and appreciates volunteer efforts, but it does not currently have a budget for trails. The study will allow the regional district to advocate for and protect some trails the community considers as most important, she said.

“We’re not in the business of trails,” she said. “We don’t have a trails service and we do not have authority over Crown land, but the fact we’re doing the trails plan shows the board understands trails are important and wants to play a role in helping to ensure the amenity is sustainable.”

Rodden is asking anyone interested in providing their opinions on trails to complete an online survey at powellriverrd.bc.ca by 4 pm Friday, June 3.

“We want as many as people as possible to do the survey,” said Rodden. “If people don’t share their thoughts, they won’t be represented in the final plan.”