Pavement hasn't been laid on the new section of the Rotary Trail at the western edge of the city, but community services director Greg Zeeben is already walking it.
SaskPower has just finished installing underground power lines near the Saskatchewan Penitentiary, where the Rotary Trail will turn south from the river and run on a newly cleared right of way between the city and the penitentiary grounds.
New sections along the river in the East Flat should also open in the next few weeks near Adanac Pointe, where legal issues had been holding up construction but are now resolved, said Zeeben.
"We're into some of those areas where there aren't new construction all over the place, new feeds and infra needs to go into place. It's not as easy as it was when we had everything going into parklands," he said, explaining why the trail wasn't finished earlier in the year.
Still, construction is continuing to hold up the section of trail from the penitentiary to the Visitor Information Centre at Marquis Road and Second Avenue West.
Zeeben said they are in the process of negotiating where the trail will go with developers and private landowners in the area, as well as the hospital, with plans to integrate it into the city at 28th Street and the Alfred Jenkins Field House currently under construction.
However, Zeeben pointed to where the trail will still have to snake through some West Flat streets, and many questions along the route are still unanswered. He said it will likely be another year before the asphalt is poured for that section, with new signs and markers from the Visitor Information Centre leading tourists onto the paths.
Once finished, he expects the trail will make it easier to leave the car at home and walk or bike to the destination. And while the new sections will be finished just before the onset of winter, he reminded people the trails are open year-round.
The city also installed new distance markers along the trail this summer, showing the distance east or west of the starting point at the boat launch along the river.
That way, Zeeben said it can be used for rehabilitation if people need to walk or run a certain distance, or if people just want to time how long it takes to travel a certain distance.
"I run half marathons every once in a while, so if I decide I want to run at such and such a pace, it's effective," said Zeeben.
tholloway@paherald.sk.ca
Stepping closer
Stepping closer
- Published on September 12th, 2009
- Published on November 3rd, 2009
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Tessa Holloway
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Rotary Trail continues toward completion
Pavement hasn't been laid on the new section of the Rotary Trail at the western edge of the city, but community services director Greg Zeeben is already walking it.
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Comments
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- Mike
- - November 20th, 2009 at 12:26:54
I think the trail is a definite asset to the city also , however my understanding was that when Jim Stiglitz left office the money was in the coffers (federal money) to complete the trail and the delay was because of some ummmm mismanagement of the designated funds . Is this true , does anyone know for sure ?
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- barry
- - November 20th, 2009 at 09:35:57
i have no use for the rotary trail , i could not care wether it stayed just with dirt , get 9th. ave west by the vic hosp fixed which has been a nightmare for well over a yr. , alot more people need that then some stupid walking trail , fix whats really needed not something thats not needed , the walking trails are in better condition then the main road to the hosp. , detour after detour on 9th. ave west what a joke the city planner's are , but hey they do not have to drive that area every day to go to and come back home from work , so why would they care
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- Al
- - November 20th, 2009 at 00:13:04
Barry... thank goodness you're in the minority. Every progressive forwarding thinking city in Canada has an integrated trail system. Trails promote fitness, and healthy lifestyles that families and people of all ages can use together. You only need to get out and use it once or twice to see the numbers of other users.
I think it's a very positive attribute of our city and a real asset. -
- umm
- - November 19th, 2009 at 04:00:40
of course those who are too lazy to walk or back to the trail are against it! I live a few blocks from the trail...guess what i bike to the trail and use it! Much better than biking the streets! Just like anyone that doesnt swim or have kids is against the water park and anyone who doesnt play soccer is against the AJF and anyone who doesnt like hockey is against the Art Hauser, there will never be a whole minority for something ever! All you have to do is take a look to see how many ppl actually utilize the trail
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- Al
- - November 18th, 2009 at 23:27:39
Mike... Barry has good points but also keep in mind that at least half of the costs of the Rotary trail was fund raised by a volunteer committee. The trail is for use by everyone. I can appreciate the need for road construction and other infrastructure needs as well, because I live here too.
My point is that most people (majority)welcome the trail and appreciate it as an asset unlike Barry's opinion. -
- Mike
- - November 18th, 2009 at 19:09:04
Al you make a good point as well , I feel like a fence sitter here now lol . I just don't know if it is a majority welcoming it . I have asked quite a few people in the last couple days because you stirred my mind on this . I found that those that lived close to the trail (on the fringe of the city) are for ir . However those more than a few blocks away were mainly against it . I also had one person make a point to me about how the trail was getting cleared very well this winter , which is an awsome thing for the city to do . But they lived on 28th street and said that the walks on city property , between I think it's 10th and 12th avenues were neglected causing all the carleton kids to walk on the street .
But you definitly made another good reason for the trail to be completed quickly. -
- Jerry
- - November 18th, 2009 at 18:18:16
The trail is already an asset to our city and will only get better, however I am dismayed at the amount of garbage laying around from about the museum on central to the railway bridge. Not bottles as they get picked up, but bags, clothes,paper, diapers etc. Could fine option people not work at this? Also go right down to the waters edge west of the railway bridge, down from River Park. That is a disgace. it is no better than the worst areas of Vancouver. From the evedence of activities down there Im surprised there has not been a death down there. Also why is there a needle drop box behind the museum with a chain link fence around it so it cant be used? The box could be moved outside the fence. Drop boxes need not be hidden, they show our city cares and is responding.
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- Mike
- - November 18th, 2009 at 15:41:32
I don't know if Barry is in the minority or not , but he make a really good point about priorities Al .
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- S
- - November 18th, 2009 at 15:01:02
I like the new distance markers! Cudos to the city for installing them!
