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Trails for the Creston Valley Society looking for new members

Trails for the Creston Valley Society is seeking 1,000 members to support its goal of accessible green spaces and water...
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The view from Balancing Rock Trail

We are now well into summer and the cogs are still turning on the vision to make our valley, favorite green spaces and water more accessible.

Hooray for the quick success on getting the trail below the Therapeutic Riding Program designated as a walking path to Goat River Road South. Thank you to Regional District of Central Kootenay Area C director Larry Binks for his work on this.

A small steering group has been working on the paperwork end of things. The group is now established as the Trails for the Creston Valley Society and has taken on the charitable status from the previous trails group, which will allow it to give receipts for donations and receive money from foundations.

At the meeting in May, the group identified three projects it felt would be low hanging fruit and huge assets to the community. It met with representatives from the Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources and walked these spaces. Ralph Moore has identified a stand of giant cedar trees along Summit Creek to make a walking trail through and designate as an interpretive forest.

The other projects are two pieces of crown land along Goat River, one at the end of Goat River Road South, and the other at the end of Arrowsmith Road. The trails society would like to open up these spaces for pedestrian use, dogs on leash and cycling or horse riding in some areas. The application process takes time, but when the society get the go ahead, it will be time to start digging!

In the meantime, it is important to build a membership base so the society will have some viability when it comes to looking for sponsors and filling out grant applications. The trails society directors have agreed on offering a yearly membership for $10, family membership for $20, and youth and senior memberships for $5. This money will support some start up costs, and members will receive email updates for events and meetings, maps as they are made and, best of all, will support this exciting initiative in our valley. The society is shooting for 1,000 paid members. Remember, there is power in numbers!

Starting in August, look for the Trails for the Creston Valley Society at the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market, at the Creston Valley Fall Fair, or purchase a membership at the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce.

—TRAILS FOR THE CRESTON VALLEY SOCIETY