By Tom Mark

Group To Look At Economic Side Of Rail Trails

Dec 14, 2017 | 12:00 PM

North Okanagan Regional District staff have been asked to look into setting up a working group to investigate economic opportunities linked to the two rail trails.

Board Chair Bob Fleming says a number of issues from commercial development and maintenance of the trails need to be addressed.

“All those things are going to have to be talked about and I think what the board was looking for is there be some sort of formal mechanism for doing that.”

Fleming says it’s expected the working group would be open to outside user groups to bring in their ideas.

“Whether it’s Ribbons Of Green or well in the north of course the Shuswap Trail Alliance is involved and others no doubt, North Okanagan Naturalist Club, cycling groups, you name it, people are going to be interested in what happens.”

Mechanical Issues

Opening of Lavington Outdoor Pool delayed, again

8h ago

Commonage Crash

Motorcyclist hospitalized in crash near Vernon

11h ago

Two Deaths in May

Fatal drug poisonings recorded locally in May, yearly totals still down

13h ago

Meanwhile, the board approved a recommendation to the Okanagan Rail Trail Inter jurisdictional team that it include a representative from Coldstream.

Board Chair Fleming says it makes sense as the team morphs into a different unit once the trail is completed.

“Then what we’re looking for is that there be a similar group that will look at development and all the issues around development of the trail and operating the trail and promoting the trail and so on.”

The current team is just involved in construction of the trail, but Coldstream and other communities would deal with amenities related to the trail such as parking and commercial development.

Vernon withdrew its request to have a representative because the trail isn’t within city boundaries.

by Tom Mark