Unknown donor willing to put $50,000 towards Okanagan Rail Trail

Donations to help build the Okanagan Rail Trail will be doubled-up thanks to an anonymous supporter of the project.

In celebration of Canada Day, the benefactor has offered to match all donations to the rail trail between July 1-10 up to $50,000.

“My donation will build just over 300 metres of trail, and by working together, we can create over 600 metres. That’s a better part of kilometre.” says the unnamed donor in a news release.

Trail Ambassador, Brad Clements, is excited about the offer.

“Donations have been coming in every day and the support is fantastic,” said Clements. “If we want construction to start early next spring however we will need a lot more and this just might inspire that.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Donations have been coming in every day and the support is fantastic," said Clements. "If we want construction to start early next spring however we will need a lot more and this just might inspire that."

A $160 donation funds a metre of construction.

Contributions can be made through the North Okanagan Community Foundation, the Central Okanagan Foundation or by visiting okanaganrailtrail.ca

Campaign facts:

– 937 meters funded
– 272 donors
– current target – $500,000 for design and access control
– % to target – 30
– 35 trail ambassadors
– 7 campaign partners
– 7 business partners

Trail facts:

– $22 million – purchase price of discontinued rail corridor.
– $50 million – asking price.
-$7.86 million – estimated cost to construct the first phase of the trail
– 48.5 km – length of trail when completed (17.8 km in Kelowna, 2.3 km in Okanagan Indian Reserve, 16.3 km in Lake Country, 12.1 km in Regional District of North Okanagan).