Trail Enhancement Project
College trail enhancement project in the Cranbrook Community Forest
With our latest student housing project now complete, the College remains committed to rejuvenating surrounding multi-use trails on College land, maintaining our “Rocky Mountain Inspired” brand promise.
In collaboration with the Wildhorse Cycling Club, the Cranbrook Community Forest Society and other relevant stakeholders, we have conceptualized new sections of trail and improvements to existing trail near our track and student housing buildings. Inclusivity and quality will be key principles of trail design – work by Lifetime Outdoor Inc. is expected to begin early Spring 2022.
Overwhelming community support helped shape the scope and scale of this project. We launched a fundraising campaign on #GivingTuesday (December 1st 2020) with the College committing to match donations up to a total of $50,000, with a total project goal of $100,000. Over the course of the fundraising campaign, which concluded on April 30th 2021, 105 donations were received for a grand total of $130,751 raised toward this project! 100% of proceeds will go toward materials, features, and construction of the trails. You can still make a donation (eligible for a charitable tax receipt) with funds being directed to future improvements and/or ongoing trail maintenance.
This project will include:
- The creation of a designated College trailhead with improved signage and a bike wash station.
- A rejuvenated multi-use up-track, with benches on the side.
- A mountain bike flow trail with berms, technical features, and ride-around options, built to Whistler Trail Standards.
- Additional native plants and interpretive signage.
Stay tuned for project progress and photos!
Trails are an important community asset. Like many other recreation facilities they provide the local population with access to outdoor experiences and outlets for physical activity that have measureable impacts on health and wellness. Due to many societal factors, trail-based recreation is growing ever more popular. The recreational opportunities that are literally at the College’s doorstep are a bonus selling feature that the College and our community can be proud of and promote. Wildhorse Cycling Club is in full support of this project and we encourage people to contribute to the campaign!
Ryan Hamilton, President – Wildhorse Cycling Club
