By Sarah Wallace

Rotary Trail board sets date for Field House finish

Sep 22, 2014 | 6:36 AM

The completion of the Rotary Trail is still a few years away.

David Fischl, chair of the multi-use trails committee, said they are still hoping to have the trail by the Alfred Jenkins Field House complete by the end of the year, but said there is a chance it may not be.

“We’re going through that new development area and they’re not quite ready for the trail to get through there,” said Fischl. “We’re waiting for the construction to get to a point where we can get through that. Once we’re through we should be able to get to the Alfred Jenkins Field House.”

Along with the construction in the new development area, weather also played a factor in delaying the completion of that portion of the trail.

Due to the weather, the city was delayed in paving city roads, which needed to be complete before moving on to the trail.

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The committee would like to get the trail done as quickly as possible but “you want to have the area that you’re putting the trail through ready for the trail first,” Fischl said.

“We’re still hoping we might get closer, but I’m not sure if we’ll get there this year.”

After the portion of the trail is complete by the Alfred Jenkins Field House is complete they will begin working on the portion of the trail on the west side of the city.

“That next piece is about two kilometres [long]. Part of that I think we can probably do next year. And then part of it we’re still working with land owners and trying to figure out exactly how we’re going to get there.”

He said they are really hopefully to have the trail complete within the next two years.

“I know it’s going [to be completed]. I know we have city support and council support. The mayor is behind us.”

This year though they will be installing 21 wheelchair accessible ramps for the trail and they will also be connecting the little pieces.

Fischl talked about two pieces of the trail they are hoping to have completed by the end of the year.

One piece is in the northeast corner of the city, the other is a piece in front of Home Hardware where they are laying down bricks.

“What we’re seeing is not only the completion of the trail to where it is, but their also getting the trail done where we hadn’t had it done before.”

Fischl said the support from the city has been really great.

“The city administration has really been helpful in trying to remove roadblock, or trail blocks and make it happen,” he said laughingly. “There’s really good co-operation between us and the city.”

“Every year we get a little bit closer, I know for me I’d like to see it happen faster, but it isn’t. But in saying that every year we get a little bit closer to getting around the city, and the next is out to Little Red. I’m really, really excited about this, I know a lot of people use it and that’s the important part, we’re getting a lot of usage and a lot of positive comments on it.”

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahthesquid