It has taken two years, but the UNBC Connector Trail System is now complete. The final touch was the paving of the 2.6 kilometres of Tyner Boulevard trail.
The system boasts more than 10 kilometres of trails which can be used by pedestrians, cyclists and those on horseback to travel between the Cranbrook Hill Greenway, UNBC, Forest for World and Ginter's Meadow.
"The trail will help sustain the health and well-being of the community. There are very few examples of infrastructure that return as much benefit as enhancing our trail system," said Mayor Dan Rogers.
In the spring of 2009, a preliminary design was developed along with the Active Communities Initiative.
It was originally conceived in the Prince George Centennial Trails Project as part of the UNBC Rivers Connector and was completed in time for the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
"In an effort to help get our community fit, active and engaged," said MLA Shirley Bond.
The City of Prince George received $444,000 for the project from the Federal Government's Community Adjustment Fund.
The project created 18 jobs for unemployed forest workers who conducted forest fuel treatment, clearing and construction within the proposed UNBC Connector Trail System.
Its construction included hazardous tree removal, thinning of coniferous brush within five metres of the trails, pruning the lower branches on trees and surfacing treatments and site furnishings.
The final product is a system that includes a three metre wide multi-use granular trails and an equestrian rustic trail.
Liane Bunting, an avid equestrian was on hand with her horse, Ms. Chocolate Sundae to celebrate it finally being completed.
"It means a heck of a lot. It means that someone like me who is a working student with a full-time job who can't afford to keep my horse out in a pasture, I can now keep my horse in town. It's not just a thing for pleasure for me because I do compete provincially with her, so fitness is a big part of a training to keep prepared," said Bunting.
Before it was complete, Bunting would have to drive out of town every few weeks to exercise her horse.
"For recreation it's fantastic. You can't beat being able to ride on a trail in the city, there aren't very many cities that you can do that in. Being able to have access to all the trails easily and safely is a big deal," said Bunting.
The system was officially opened on Saturday afternoon as part of the events for the national sports days in Canada.
"Our community has changed and improved in the last 20 years and it's really facilities like this that really allow that to take place," said Pat Bell, minister of jobs, tourism and innovation. "When I think about relatives coming into town, 20 years ago I'd have to think about where I'd take them and now it's hard to take them everywhere and show them everything."
For more information on the trails across Prince George visit www.city.pg.bc.ca or call
250-561-7600.
