The Community Coordination Project hosted its second meeting in a series aimed at bringing trail volunteers in the area together.
Led by the Golden Community Resources Society (GCRS), the project’s focus is to start the discussions and actions that will improve the fabric and framework of our community.
Right now they are focusing on the trail networks in Golden (which are becoming more and more valuable, both to the residents and the tourism industry), and the volunteer organizations who develop and maintain them.
This second meeting featured presenter Al Skucas, past president of Trails BC, who spoke about trail programs across the province, and the Trans Canada Trail.
There are many examples of trail alliance and development models, all with different memberships and funding formulas. But the most successful project Skucas talked about was a “rails to trails” project. With land donated by CP Rail, and the support of municipalities Kimberley and Cranbrook, the $2.8 million, 17-kilometre North Star Rail Trail opened in 2010, and connects Kimberley to Cranbrook.
It has now surpassed gold courses as the largest daily tourism activity in the region, and has become the most inquired about activity at the local Chamber of Commerce office.
Golden is the home of several world-class trail networks including the Moonrakers, Mount 7, Dawn Mountain, and Rotary trails. However, from Skucas’ experience, he suggests that it would take a scenic trail network of no less than 15 kilometres to get visitors to pull off the highway.
More information about Skucas’ presentation, and the Community Coordination Project are available at www.goldenloom.ca.
