REGINA – When Wascana Trails’ off-road hand cycle trail was constructed in 2012, it became the first in the county.
But when Michael Poulton, the man behind the trail’s conception, recently returned to use it after moving out of province he was gutted by what he found.
“At this point, it’s in a state of disrepair,” he explained.
Sport disability groups in Saskatchewan raised more $100, 000 to construct the trail which needs a certain width and slope to make accessible.
The province bore responsibility to maintain it so long as the path was used, but the acting director of provincial parks, Larry Schiefner, said it wasn’t.
“We still do routine maintenance on the trails, but typically to keep them in the natural state and in this case, it would be helped maintained by the usage of the off road hand cycles.”
Earlier this year the trail’s signs were taken down and until Thursday, the path continued to be advertised online as the only off-road hand cycle trail in Canada.
Poulton believes the changes don’t reflect the province’s disability strategy which was unveiled on Monday.
The initiative emphasizes creating inclusive communities, but Poulton said that taking these accessible trails off the map does just the opposite.
“It’s very saddening to see the government not following through with the commitment to this project and to see all the hard work invested by so many people fade away.”
Schiefner added that they haven’t had success contacting local organizations involved in the trails’ construction, but would be willing to start a dialogue about the path’s future.
He adds that the trails continue to be multiuse for things like biking, hiking and even hand cycling, but are no longer being advertised as being completely accessible.
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