2022-06-15 – PRESS RELEASE
CLEARWATER BC –The District of Clearwater held a groundbreaking ceremony at the location of the Wells Gray Inn to commemorate the beginning of construction on two new trails that will service the community. This construction will see one new multi-use paved connecting pathway from Old North Thompson Hwy (37E) through the Dutch Lake Subdivision to the Clearwater River Trail head. A second trail will be constructed between the Wells Gray Inn and the Clearwater Roundabout. After a public procurement process Council Construction of the trails project was awarded to Borrow Enterprises Ltd.
The District of Clearwater successfully applied for grant funding for the Dutch Lake Multi-Use Pathway with the Tourism Dependent Communities (TDC) Fund. Funding for approved projects under the TDC Program is provided by the Province of British Columbia. Across British Columbia, thirty-two communities with local economies that depend heavily on visitors have received a combined $19.4 million to support tourism infrastructure development.
Funding for the Multi-Use Pathway Safe Connector between the Wells Gray Inn and the Clearwater Roundabout was successfully applied for via the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program. The B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program is part of B.C.’s strategy for cleaner, more active transportation, part of the Province’s CleanBC plan to reduce carbon pollution.
This project is one of several that have been completed and several more that will be completed to provide safe connecting trails between the three business areas of Clearwater and offer the healthy choice of walking and or biking to community residents in accordance with the District’s Trails Master Plan.
Clearwater is the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park and a hub of tourism. The trails will encourage tourists to lengthen their stay as the trails will give them the option of additional outdoor opportunities within the community
“ The Clearwater Trails Task Force is a tenacious, determined group of volunteers that have helped bring the community vision of a trails network to life. It’s great to see this dream come to fruition. Thanks to our granting partners, like the Wells Gray Community Forest and the Province that made these new trails possible.”
-Merlin Blackwell, Mayor, District of Clearwater
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Contact: John Thomas, Chief Administrative Officer – District of Clearwater
admin@docbc.ca or 250-674-2257