Northern gateway proposed for Okanagan Rail Trail

Jul 28, 2020 | 11:31 AM

With the Okanagan Rail Trail up and running and seeing lots of users this summer, a new fundraising campaign has been launched to create a signature northern gateway at Kilometre Zero of the trail.

“For the first time since funds were raised to build the Okanagan Rail Trail almost two years ago, Okanagan residents and visitors are being invited to donate to make the trail even better,” said a news release from The Friends of Okanagan Rail Trail (FORT), a non-profit volunteer group that supports the trail.

The group is proposing a number of features at Kilometre Zero, which is off College Way in Coldstream, accessible by the pathways along College Way and Kalamalka Lake Road. Concept plans call for development of a ‘plaza’ staging area, interpretive installations and public art, a hilltop lookout and native plant restoration with Indigenous gardens.

Phase one of plan will use donations to help restore the Arrowleaf Balsamroot and other native plants to honour the natural environment of the Kalamalka Lake shoreline.

Donations from communities and trail users will be added to grants from the Regional District of North Okanagan, Okanagan Basin Water Board and TD Friends of Environment Foundation to initiate site development this fall.

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“Friends of Okanagan Rail Trail were awarded the first grant from a new RDNO trails and natural spaces grant program,” Mike Fox, general manager of community services for RDNO, said. “The grant requires that FORT match the RDNO contribution, and given the increased use this year, it is obvious that the rail trail has a lot of community support. RDNO also heard enthusiastic support for the Kilometre Zero Concept Plan at open houses last fall.”

Work with the Okanagan Indian Band is uncovering some of the rich stories of the area called K’ək’maplqs or ‘Little Head of the Lake’.

“K’ək’maplqs was important to our people for fishing, hunting, and harvesting, and remains of pit houses have been found in the vicinity,” Chief of the Okanagan Indian Band Byron Louis said. “The Okanagan Rail Trail was originally part of a larger interconnected network of trails utilized by our people to access all parts of Northern Syilx Territory to undertake essential sustenance, societal and spiritual activities.”

The Okanagan Band will continue to be an active partner in discussions on how to develop and manage the route, including the stories to be shared. Indigenous knowledge is also helping to shape plans for native plant restoration and plants important to the Syilx culture. One of those plants is smúkwaʔxn, or Arrowleaf Balsamroot, the iconic yellow spring wildflower that many of us refer to as Okanagan Sunflowers. This beautiful flower is also the theme for the fundraising campaign.

“We did not expect a global pandemic when we prepared to fundraise for this site last spring”, said Laurie Postill, chair of FORT fundraising. “Although plans were put on hold, these past few months have highlighted the importance of the rail trail to our community and the gratitude of trail users.

“We would be thrilled to see donor support for the complete concept plan but are taking a modest approach given the challenges of COVID-19. Our target is to raise funds for the first phase of site development, starting with the ‘Okanagan Sunflowers’ and other native plants, and the Syilx stories.”

For more information on proposed developments at the Kilometre Zero gateway, and the ‘Sunflower Campaign’ check out: okanaganrailtrail.ca.

by Pete McIntyre

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