Majority of Okanagan Rail Trail officially opens, but portion still not ready

It was a ribbon cutting years in the making. On Thursday, dignitaries and a large crowd gathered in Lake Country to officially open the Okanagan Rail Trail.

However, the project faces more hurdles before the full pathway can be completed.

The multi-million dollar project transformed the majority of the former rail line between Coldstream and Kelowna into the pathway. The project wouldn’t have been possible without thousands of individual donations.

“It feels wonderful. The community came together in a big way and made this happen really quickly,” said Duane Thomson of the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative, the organization that spearheaded fundraising.

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However, don’t count on riding your bike all the way from Kelowna to Coldstream just yet.

Watch Below: A look back at Global Okanagan coverage of the rail trail’s progress and controversies. The project has been years in the making.

2:10 Rail Trail fundraisers close to goal

• Rail Trail fundraisers close to goal
• Kelowna looks to connect Rutland neighbourhood with rail trail
• Feds come up with more than $1 million for Okanagan Rail Trail
• Open house on Okanagan rail trail finalizes details before construction begins
• Re-surfaced section of Okanagan Rail Trail tests out different materials
• Okanagan rail trail fundraiser gets big boost
• Lake Country defends compensation paid for rail trail expropriation
• Former Kelowna councillor takes Lake Country to court over rail trail compensation
• Politicians endorse nearly $8-million rail trail plan
• Okanagan Rail Trail is impetus for proposed community park
• Rail Trail open house – Oyama
• Okanagan Indian Band gets onboard with rail trail project

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Last week, the Agricultural Land Commission rejected plans for one part of the trail, citing concerns ranging from trespassing on farm land to equipment theft to public safety.

However, local officials spearheading the path say these issues aren’t unique along the rail trail and can be mitigated with things like better fencing. They hope to come to an agreement that would allow the trail to fully open.

Meanwhile, another portion is closed until it can be added to the Okanagan Indian Band reserve by the federal government.

That’s not expected to happen until next year.

So, for now, all rail trail enthusiasts can do is keep enjoying the majority of the nearly 50 kilometer path that is ready for public use.