By Andrew de Souza

Outlook for Rotary Trail positive despite hurdles

Dec 16, 2010 | 5:18 AM

A rained-out construction season meant no work was done on the Rotary Trail in 2010, but those involved in the project remain hopeful for 2011.

“We’re really hoping to get it onto the west side next year,” said trail committee chair Dave Fischl. “We’re at the casino, we want to work from the casino right through as far as we can and every year moving it closer and closer.”

So far, approximately 17 kms of the trail is complete in two sections. Fischl said once the trails complete it will be approximately 23 kilometers and will fully encircle the city.

Fischl and his fellow committee members have been working on it for more than 10 years. He said once it’s complete it’ll be a centrepiece for the city and be a great recreation asset for everyone.

“This is such a good project for everyone in the city. It doesn’t matter if you have a disability, how old you are, how young you are it doesn’t matter,” said Fischl.

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But while Fischl is optimistic about getting the trail done as soon as possible, the reality is that are several hurdles to get over before that dream can be realized.

The first is the question of funding. The project raised around $650,000 from the community. On Monday, committee members Arses Billo and Don Junor presented the city with $60,000, the last instalment of funds the group had raised.

Junor explained to council that while it was a sizeable fundraiser, the cost of building the trail had almost doubled. He asked council to continue its support into the future.

City director of community services Greg Zeeben said another major problem is working with all the different private and public groups to determine where to lay the trail.

“There’s this expectation that we can just go and start dropping stuff on the ground and we can’t,” said Zeeben. “We’re going through private land. We’re working with developers we’re working with a little bit of city land.”

“My main objective is to make sure that whatever we do is going to stay there and we’re not going to have to dig it up and do it twice.”

Zeeben said he expects the trail to take a few years at least before completion.
He said the city will present a report to council about future plans and challenges for the trail by next February.

adesouza@panow.com