Politicians endorse nearly $8-million rail trail plan

VERNON – Almost $8 million. That’s the estimated cost of building the much talked about rail trail between Kelowna and Coldstream.

This week, the group in charge of raising that money and the City of Kelowna staffer heading up the rail trail planning process are presenting their proposals to Okanagan politicians, hoping to get political support for the trail plan itself and a fundraising proposal for the project.

So far both the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee and Kelowna City Council have given their support.

The presentations began in the North Okanagan and Kelowna on Monday and gave officials a concrete sense of what the trail is expected to look like and how much it will cost.

The $7.6 million plan calls for a continuous path from Kelowna to Coldstream. The trail surface is expected to be mainly crushed rock.

The Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative, a group that has long been advocating for the development of the trail, is planning to spearhead the fundraising.

It is aiming to raise the money to pay for the project and some additional funds to pay for the cost of the fundraising itself.

“It is a piece of infrastructure that will not only provide us incredible benefits today, but it will provide a legacy for our communities. Many have described this as this is our ability to make the equivalent of a Stanley Park here in the Okanagan,”said Brad Clements with the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It is a piece of infrastructure that will not only provide us incredible benefits today, but it will provide a legacy for our communities. Many have described this as this is our ability to make the equivalent of a Stanley Park here in the Okanagan,"said Brad Clements with the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative.

However, one North Okanagan politician worries the group might not to be able to raise such a large sum.

“I think it touches a lot of people perhaps more directly than a recreational trail so it will be curious to see how the fundraising goes.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think it touches a lot of people perhaps more directly than a recreational trail so it will be curious to see how the fundraising goes."

Macnabb is concerned that taxpayers may be asked to fill in the gap if rail trail fundraising falls short.

“I suspect that we may be called on. I think, right now we are just hoping the public will come up and support it,” he said.

However, the chair of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee is more optimistic.

“I think there is huge buy-in already. I think people are very forward thinking and see that this is a huge advantage,” said Juliette Cunningham.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think there is huge buy-in already. I think people are very forward thinking and see that this is a huge advantage," said Juliette Cunningham.

The trail plan and fundraising proposal still need the support of Lake Country and the Okanagan Indian Band.