During a meeting held April 20 in Kamloops, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors approved spending up to a maximum of $24,000 for the development of a new section of the Candle Creek mountain bike trails network, secured under a Recreation Sites and Trails BC partnership agreement.
The money will be allocated to Electoral Area “A” (Wells Gray Country) from federal Gas Tax – Community Works Fund revenues.
TNRD staff will negotiate an agreement with Wells Gray Outdoor Club to do the work.
In 2016 WGOC, with funding provided by Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC), Wells Gray Community Forests and the TNRD developed 5.5 km of new trails. Total cost for this project was $61,500 and included.07 km of trails completed by volunteers in 2015.
The club plans to complete another 25 km of trails over the next five years at an estimated cost of $300,000.
The development is in partnership with the Simpcw First Nation initiative to develop mountain bike tourism within their tradition territories of the Barriere to McBride corridor.
WGOC has received approval of $84,000 from Wells Gray Community Forests Society for the next phase of trail development. Already secured is $11,000 from the Kamloops Blazers Sports Legacy Fund, and $40,000 from the BC Rural Dividend Fund. Although yet not confirmed, $9,000 from RSTBC is anticipated.
The Candle Creek mountain bike trails network is located at the same place as the Candle Creek cross-country ski trails northeast of Clearwater.
Board approves Blue River beer garden
Also during the April 20 meeting, the TNRD board of directors gave approval for Blue River Community Association to host a beer garden as part of the group’s Community Welcome to Summer BBQ.
The barbecue will take place on Saturday, June 10, at Blue River Community Park next to Eleanor Lake.
Because the park is owned by the TNRD, the approval comes with the following requirements:
• The association must meet or exceed all requirements of the TNRD’s special event permit;
• The association must complete the Thompson Headwaters park use application;
• The association must meet the commercial general liability requirements of $3,000,000, with the TNRD being identified as an additional insured;
• The consumption of alcoholic beverages must be restricted to a specified area of the park, with a clearly marked perimeter and one controlled access point;
• No glass containers are permitted to be served; and
• All garbage generated must be removed from the park by the association.
