The MD of Bonnyville is blazing a new trail.
The municipality is creating a Trail Development Strategy, and as part of that initiative, development standards guidelines.
“What this policy will do is layout everything when it comes to developing trails. It will talk about the standards and the plan that council has,” outlined Chris McCord, director of parks, recreation, and culture.
According to Reeve Greg Sawchuk, the Trail Development Standards Policy “sets in place a number of different types of trails, so from your natural trails, which is essentially a grass pathway through the bush, up to your fully paved trail. In between, you have a trail that does have a base to it, it’s a shale-type covering on it.”
Not only does the policy outline the maintenance requirements for current trails, it also delves into any future trail construction.
Sawchuk said by having these guidelines in place, the MD will have a “better idea of the cost of developing each of these, and that would be accounted for in what we choose to do.”
For example, a longer trail that’s located in the rural parts of the MD could be developed as a natural path, whereas a shorter trail that’s heavily used and closer to the Town of Bonnyville or City of Cold Lake may be paved.
“They may require a higher standard of trail. Obviously the ones that are over a field, or where you want to maintain that natural setting… if you’re going to be going a long distance, and (considering) the cost involved, you’re probably better to go with the shale type,” Sawchuk explained.
The overall strategy outlines some of the top priorities in terms of maintenance and future projects of the MD’s trail committee.
However, McCord noted “it’s going to take that even further and look at population areas, where there are trails, where there aren’t, the connectivity of those trails, whether they’re going somewhere, or if they will connect to another trail.”
She used the Ardmore walking path as an example.
“It’s a short, looped trail… It goes out past the storm pond, and it’s really nice out there. That might be something where it doesn’t necessarily connect, but people can go and just do a short loop around walk,” stated McCord. “It will be taking all of that into consideration and then it will look at the development of the trail and whether it’s a paved asphalt trail, a compact gravel trail, or a natural trail, like what we have a Muriel Lake.”
Prior to the creation of the policy, the MD just built and maintained trails as needed.
“I think it’s been a long time coming. This is going to help cement the whole process of trail building,” McCord expressed, adding before, trails were made based on the previous council’s wishes or residents coming in and making a request.
“We want to pull back and take a look at the whole area before we make those decisions and see where the best fit is.”
Sawchuk added, “We’re excited the MD is recognizing folks are using trails throughout the area, and we look forward to working with our neighbours in the development of these trails.”
For McCord, the standards will iron out some issues they’ve been facing on their trails, such as drainage.
“Going forward, there are still some things we would like to see. Drainage is one of the issues, there’s some ponding of water on some of the trails. That will be something we address with future trail building,” she explained.
