Spreading cash on the ground supports Kings’ trails system

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

Two Kings County trail development groups got a boost June 11.

Thirty-five projects across Nova Scotia will share in the $300,000 Off Highway Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, a joint project of the provincial departments of Health Protection and Promotion and Natural Resources. Local recipients included the Kings County Trails Society (KCTS), which will receive $50,000 to convert 22.8 kilometres of abandoned rail bed; and Berwick, $14,500 to further development of a 2.2 km trail through the town.

Bob Wright, president of KCTS, said the funds will go a long way to making trail improvements for OHV users. The first priority for the society will be to repair trail bridges at Magee Brook and Graves Brook, both located west of Aylesford/ Auburn. Wright said the bridge at Magee Brook needs the most attention: there is currently no way around it.

“Unless we get these bridges fixed, the trail between them is essentially blocked off and the trail system is not continuous,” said Wright.

The society made repairs to a bridge at Skinner’s Brook in East Aylesford last year and was able to capitalize on support from local individuals and businesses.

“If we had contracted out work on that bridge, it would have cost $40,000 to $45,000. Instead, after we negotiated with suppliers and got a lot of volunteer help, our final cost was $28,000.”

Wright expects future bridge repairs will be accomplished in the same manner. ATVANS, the provincial ATV group, has committed to helping with the project as well. Work will get underway soon.

The society is also planning to devote part of the funding to trail remediation in the Kingston area. Kingston and the KCTS recently signed an agreement to share in the establishment and maintenance of a multi-use linear trail on the abandoned DAR railbed running through the village. There are several spots through the village that become water holes after it rains because the dirt surface has been washed away.

“We plan to get in there and do some grading with class A gravel to fix that,” said Wright, who added an area at the west end of the village, near Avery’s Farm Market, also needs attention. “Some riders have made a grass trail there, so we are planning to get a fence up in that location.”

Berwick, which has the letter of authority for the former DAR railbed within town limits, plans to continue upgrades at the site of the former train station and do some surface work on the portion of the trail east of Commercial Street. Trails committee member Harrt MacKinley hopes the work will be done over the next six months.

Groups who received money from the fund must contribute an equal amount. MacKinley says the $14,500 received from the province will translate into almost $30,000 - which, he says, won’t take long to spend.

“Trail development is very expensive, but it really adds to the town and already we are seeing a lot of people making use of it.”

Projects eligible for OHV infrastructure funding must commit to avoiding vulnerable areas, contribute to environmental protection, make use of existing infrastructure and encourage shared use where appropriate.