SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A promenade along the edge of Twin Pine Hill leading to a viewing platform that would give a panorama of Old Town and Great Slave Lake were among ideas considered during a walking tour of the hill last week.

Tour participants walk down from the top of Twin Pine Hill through deep snow to an flatter, wooded area called the bench. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo

The city-organized tours over three days providing a chance for people to explore areas that could be designated trails and to identify where stairs, viewpoints and interpretive signs could be added. The city and the developer of the condos under construction atop the hill have both set aside $250,000 for a trail system.

"We're trying to look at where the public wants access to the green space and how it ties into current and proposed developments," said Craig Scott, executive director of Ecology North, who took the walking tour on Thursday.

"For the most part, I think people are suggesting that current trails are good," he said, referring to the informal pathways already on the hill.

Like others who took the tour the next day, he suggested some access points to the north of the condo development atop the hill would be good.

A group of seven walked the hill last Thursday, along with three city staff members and consultant Peter Spearey with Associated Engineering who is working with the city on the design of the trail system.

The group spent part of the tour considering how a promenade could be added along the edge of the hill top near the condo development that would link to a viewing point but maintain privacy for condo residents. The suggestion was to add something just below the lip of the hilltop connecting to an area near the top set aside for public parking.

"The whole thing about being close to backyards is a concern for everybody," said Marianne Bromley.

Having a promenade just below the hilltop could "help the residents to feel more private" and place trail users closer to the areas left intact, she said.

A constant question surrounded the acceptable level of disturbance. For instance, in a cleared and blasted area where piped services go to the condo development from Franklin Avenue, would people want a paved, and therefore more accessible, path up the hill?

Bromley said the hill, which she lived across from for more than 30 years, is a special place for her.

"I hope that we can preserve as much of the natural aspect of it as possible, not just for the view but because it's a natural area right in the middle of town," she said.

The tour skirted the edge of the northeast side of the condo development.

Only a few of the six-plex buildings have been started so far. The developer previously told city council more buildings would be erected to meet demand.

"The scale of this development is just starting to sink in," Jamie Bastedo said during the tour.

He advocated for the viewpoints, saying it would give tourists another place to go to view the city and perhaps even the Northern lights.

Jeff Humble, the city's director of planning and development, said there will likely be another walking tour of the site in the spring once the snow melts.

The hope is to have a plan before council for approval later this year, issue a tender for construction work and potentially have that work done in the summer.

"It's within the realm of possibility that construction could start in the summer," Humble said, cautioning it's early in the process and council still needs to weigh in.

However, one of the tour participants suggested not using all $500,000 set aside for the project at once.

"Hold onto the money, don't spent it if you don't need to," suggested Diane Baldwin. She said instead of spending all the money available, the city should add a few features to make the hill easier to access and then see which areas are popular and may need more infrastructure.

Those on the Friday tour ended it by thanking the city for holding the walkabout consultation.