Chris Clegg
Richard Froese
South Peace News
Enilda will soon have a walking trail after many years of lobbying by residents and planning by Big Lakes County.
At its regular meeting July 10, council approved the tender for a walking trail to E Construction in the amount of $327,678.21, not including GST. The company was the lowest of four tenders received by the deadline of June 27.
Enilda residents are more than pleased with the news.
“We’re very happy, it’s a good thing,” says Enilda and District Society for Recreation and Culture president David Bissell.
“We’re happy with the location,” he adds. “It’s not near the highway and vehicles. Kids won’t be near the vehicles. It’s a safety issue.”
Enilda resident Eric Corbiere has written letters to the editor and Big Lakes County the last few years complaining about the delay.
“It is about time to see the walking trail I have been fighting for so long, and so hard, for the residents of Enilda and area to start enjoying like other hamlets have had for years already,” he wrote in an email.
“It has been a hard-fought battle, and is great to see my perseverance has finally paid off.”
Now that the light is at the end of the tunnel, Corbiere takes time to thank council.
“This great news to hear, and it will be great to start using it. Thank you Big Lakes County, for finally approving this project.”
The asphalt trail will be constructed adjacent to Railway Ave.
Enilda – Big Meadow Councillor Lane Monteith says council and administration are delighted to finally get the project started.
“We are pleased that this project will soon be completed to provide a safe pathway for residents to walk between the east end of the hamlet and the west end to avoid the need to use Railway Ave.,” says Monteith, who has served on council since Oct. 26, 2021.
Council has allocated funding to the project over the past several years, he adds.
Work is expected to start in the coming weeks, states a letter from MPE Engineers dated July 2.
“We have contacted E Construction and they are prepared to proceed with the work immediately,” MPE Grande Prairie region manager Drew Fellers writes in a letter to the County.
However, no date has been set to start construction, CAO David Reynolds says.
“It is anticipated to begin this summer,” Reynolds says.
Work is expected to take two weeks, weather permitting, he adds.
When the trail is completed all five hamlets in Big Lakes will have a walking trail.
Council approved a second motion adding $87,680 to the capital budget for the project, which will be funded from the community upgrades program reserve for the Enilda trail.