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'There's nothing wrong with the trail' Residents speak out as council moves ahead with public engagement for trails on Tin Can Hill
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Friday, August 2, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Council's decision to proceed with public engagement on the improvement of trails on Tin Can Hill already has some people talking about what improvements should be made to the existing system of trails.
Chris Tourangeau rides his bike along the trails on Tin Can Hill. He says the trails are fine the way they are, but that he would welcome improvements to them. - Cody Punter/NNSL photo |
"We don't need more spending on it. The money can be spent on something else," said Trong Do. "There's nothing wrong with the trail."
Do lives in the Copper Sky development at the base of Tin Can Hill at the end of School Draw, and walks on the trails with his family.
"Right now, I think it's good. We already have a trail that's been there for a while. Besides, they just put up a new road there," he said.
The city approved $60,000 for trail design, development and upgrades at Tin Can Hill in its 2013 budget, which was contracted to Dillon Consulting.
In order for work to begin on the trails in 2014, council will have to approve further funding in the 2014 budget.
Chris Tourangeau, who just moved to Yellowknife from Norman Welles in January, has been riding his bike on the trails for the past few months. He says that he enjoys the trails as they are, but that he would welcome improvements to them.
"If there is an improvement coming down the pipe, that's a positive thing," said Tourangeau.
Although Do doesn't think the hill needs more trails, he is pleased that the city is at least undertaking public consultations before they go ahead with their plans.
He added that if the city were to do any work on the hill, he would prefer to see them make existing trails safer.
"Number one is lights. You need to put lights up there so people feel comfortable walking at night," said Do.
He added the city should have bylaw officers patrolling the hill from time to time and that improved signage for the existing trails should be a priority.
"It would help for the people who come here for tourism - they have no idea where to go. That's one of the best things they could do," said Do.
One of the biggest concerns with expanding the trails are the costs associated with the project.
Jeff Humble, director of planning and development, said the city does not yet have estimates for the costs of improving the trail system on Tin Can Hill.
"We're just in the consultation stage," said Humble. "It's really contingent on what the public would like to see and of course pending the approval of council,"
However, based on the cost of maintaining existing trail systems, such as the Frame Lake Trail, the city estimated that each kilometre of trail would cost an additional $6,000 a year in operational and maintenance costs.
"Everything has a cost, that's what we pay our taxes for. And if some of that money gets allocated to public recreation and bike trails, I think that's a positive thing for the community," said Tourangeau.
Rylan Schaller, who also lives in the Copper Sky development, said he would rather see the money spent elsewhere.
"There's already enough as there is, especially in this area," said Schaller of improving the trails. "If people want more trails they usually just blaze their own," added Schaller.
Schaller said the costs of maintaining the trails alone should be enough to deter council from proceeding with an expansion.
"Especially considering the amount of debt the city is already carrying," said Schaller.
Mayor Mark Heyck has championed improving the trails on Tin Can Hill since he was a councillor. In 2012, he got his wish as the area was rezoned for parks and recreation.
Several other councillors, including Cory Vanthuyne and Adrian Bell, have also advocated for improvements on the hill.
During a municipal services committee meeting on July 8, both councillors suggested the city improve access to the water along the escarpment.
"It would be nice that if we could have 85 acres of land that we could have some waterfront access," said Vanthuyne.
Meanwhile, Bell said the city should consider a much more ambitious project than it is currently proposing.
He suggested the city consider building viewing platforms looking over the lake along the edge of the escarpment. He said it made sense to have at least one platform facing Pilot's Monument and another looking out toward the East Arm.
Humble said public consultations would likely begin in September and continue through to the new year.
He added there will be at least three phases of consultation, with a chance for further public engagement once the project is brought before council.
"Depending on how far we get in the fall, we might even have something ready for the 2014 budget," said Humble.
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