"Walkability‚" is supposed to be one of the most important factors in deciding how attractive a community is to residents and newcomers.
With this in mind, District of Clearwater has set up a Trails Task Force with the task of improving the walkability within municipal boundaries.
Members of the task force plus other volunteers were recently working to develop a trail that will loop around Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital from Evergreen Acres seniors housing and back.
According to its terms of reference, the purpose of the task force is to develop and support the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to develop safe, connected and functional recreational trails for the purposes of moving throughout community for enjoyment. The task force will need to identify trails on Crown, private and park land and to navigate the legal responsibilities of establishing these trails.
Initial members of the task force, which was officially set up last March, are Sylvia Arduini, Liana Beaudry, Fred Hulke, Tom Meland, Heather MacLennan, Larry McMillan, and chair Kim Muddiman.
Several documents developed for the District both before and after incorporation identified a trail network plan as a priority. These include Clearwater Centre Plan, Clearwater and Wells Gray Country Tourism Audit and Gap Analysis, Clearwater and Wells Gray Country Tourism Plan, Community Economic Development Strategy, Official Community Plan, North Thompson Valley Tourism Plan.
Two community recreations surveys clearly stated the need for trails as a priority for the citizens responding to the surveys.
There have been long standing community requests for a focus on the establishment of a trail system in Clearwater providing connectivity to all areas of the community, in particular connections to the commercial cores of Clearwater.
The committee is intended to move forward with the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to develop safe, connected and functional multi-use trails for both recreation and commuting routes.
