Attention all recreation enthusiasts!
Bring the family for the grand opening of the Greenways Loop Jubilee Connector trail today from 1-2 p.m.
Greenways Land Trust invites everyone in Campbell River to meet at 1 p.m. where Dogwood and Jubilee Parkway connect. From there we will stroll down the trail to the newly constructed bridge over Willows Creek for the official ribbon cutting. The Jubilee Connector is a 2.5 km greenway trail that links pedestrians to a recreational loop around Campbell River. The Greenways Loop will be a vegetated corridor reserved for pedestrian and wildlife mobility.
“The Jubilee Connector provides a safe recreation resource to our community and offers many benefits for the community,” says Stacey Larsen, Operations Manager of Greenways “The Greenways Loop trail provides an alternative and accessible transportation route around the perimeter of Campbell River that will promote active lifestyles and will improve the overall social health of the community.”
Planning began in 1997, with the adoption of the City of Campbell River Official Community. In 2009, Greenways Land Trust was appointed project manager for the southern portion of the Greenways Loop. The Jubilee Connector and construction on the Jubilee Trail then began in 2010.
“Many local jobs were created building this trail, including displaced forestry workers,” adds Erin Nowak, on-leave Operations Manager “The work crew completed many tasks such as site prep, invasive species removal, trail and bridge building, tree planting, erosion and sediment control.”
The project had a $500,000 budget which was all fund raised and managed by Greenways Land Trust. This project wouldn’t have been a success without the support of partners and in-kind volunteer donations.
The Discovery Coast Greenways Land Trust (GLT) is a non-profit charity that was formed in 1996 to enhance and maintain the greenways networks of Campbell River. The completion of the Greenways Loop was a priority project for the GLT because the project will enhance the Greenways network within our community.
The Greenways Land Trust has worked in partnership with the Community Development Trust, Island Coast Economics Trust, Job Opportunities Program, Mallinson Scaling and Consulting Ltd (doing business as Oceanside Scaling), Maritime Pacific Engineering Ltd., Campbell River Community Foundation, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Willow Creek Watershed Society, TD Friend of the Environment, Coastal Community Credit Union, City of Campbell River, Strathcona Regional District, and many others who helped this project along the way.
Watch for signs and planting of native shrubs that will enhance the Jubilee Connector trail in the fall of 2011.
Volunteers will be needed, so, keep an eye out for event postings and information in the near future.
The next stage for completion of the Greenways Loop includes beginning construction on another portion of the trail that will join the eastern side of the Jubilee connector trail to the Rotary Sea Walk along the oceanfront at Maryland Road.
For more information please contact Greenways Land Trust by phone at (250) 287-3785 or by e-mail at greenways@greenwaystrust.ca. Also, feel free to browse the website at www.greenwaystrust.ca. They are also on Facebook and Twitter.