Melfort plans to expand it's trail system by four times, over time.  File photo/northeastNOW staff

By Doug Lett

Melfort trails expansion

City of Melfort planning major expansion to trail system

Dec 22, 2022 | 5:00 PM

The City of Melfort is planning a major expansion to its trail system – but it’s going to take time. Council recently approved a long-term plan that will see the system expanded by four times over the next 10-20 years.

“Our current trail system is very well utilized,” said Kalyna Livingstone, Municipal Project Manager for the City of Melfort. “By expanding it and providing more connectivity between different destinations…I think we will see even more people using it.”

Currently, Melfort has about 7.5 kilometers of pathways. About 6.2 kilometers of that is paved, and the rest is gravel. Livingstone said the city is moving toward getting all of it paved.

“We would be wanting to move towards a fully paved pathway network. That not only saves us some operational costs, like for snow clearing and maintenance. But it’s also more functional for people who are using the pathways,” she said.

The paths can be used for everything from walking to biking to roller skates, she added. It’s a way to encourage people to be active, and another way for people to get around the city.

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While none of this is going to happen overnight, Melfort council recently approved a long-term plan that will see the trail system grow to over 29 kilometers.

The work is divided into two phases, she said.

The first phase would bring the city up to having about 12 kilometers of finished pathways.

“That would be more of…connecting the pathways we already have with some of our bigger destinations,” she said. “And then we’re kind of creating a circular route around the city.”

Phase two focuses on infill for the city’s interior to help people get to various other destinations, totaling around 17 kilometers.

“The hospital, or the library and the arena, our school playgrounds. So those sorts of destinations…having a pathway there and encouraging people to bike to work and that sort of thing,” she said.

The City of Melfort is planning a trail system of over 29 kilometers. Courtesy City of Melfort

She said the city is hoping to do some work every year, to slowly expand the system. In 2022, Livingstone said paving was done to over two kilometers of gravel pathway in Spruce Haven park. The city was able to tap into funding from the federal active transportation fund, said Livingstone, adding some of the work will carry over into 2023 with paving a section along Saskatchewan Drive.

Over the long term, she said, finding funding will be key.

“We’re looking at having kind of a regular capital program for these pathways. So kind of on an annual basis, but certainly looking for external funding for these pathways,” she said, pointing to the active transportation fund as something that could be of help in future years.

“This is a great project and it’s exciting to be involved with,” she said.

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doug.lett@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @DougLettSK