Lacombe is moving money around to tackle two high-priority trails this year.
City council decided on Monday to follow recommendations from the Lacombe and District Recreation, Parks and Culture Board and the Bill Nielsen Trail Society to pull money out of three stalled trail projects to bankroll two others.
Council’s decision saw the cancellation of the Michener Rec Area Wood Chip Path and the Wolf Creek Highway 12 to Fish Pond projects, with their combined budget of $92,475 in provincial funding reallocated to the Fairway Heights Willow Ridge Network for engineered design and construction of the Westview Stairs and associated trail upgrades, for a total of $200,754.
The Trans-Canada NE of Henners project was also cancelled, and the budgeted $516,000 in provincial grant funding was reallocated to the Elizabeth Lake 300-metre Boardwalk project. This increases the total budget of the project from $271,700 to $787,700.
The cancelled projects will remain part of the overall City of Lacombe Trails Plan for when further funding becomes available.
The boardwalk crossing at Elizabeth Lake will be a new feature in the community, enhancing the nature experience with an accessible water feature, and is expected to attract visitors from around the region
The project was made possible with a land donation from the local Bowett family.