What is the purpose of the trail?

The purpose of the trail is to have a designated space for people to walk off the road open to the community. We will also be making use of unused property.

Who is the trail for?

The trail will initially be simple and open to all, but will not be readily accessible for wheelchairs or strollers. The trail is designed for all ages, but it is best to take into account that it does draw close to the freeway. 

When is the trail due to be ready?

Originally, the trail was planned to be ready for the end of the summer. Due to multiple circumstances, not the least of which being the acquisition of the Winchester church building, things have been slightly delayed and as of such the main work is only now starting. Hopefully the project will be complete by the end of fall.

What work is there to be done?

Currently, there are a number of trees that need to be cleared to open up the path, render it safe, and promote growth of other trees in proximity of the trail. The trees that are cleared may be used in a number of ways, such as parts of the materials for the boardwalk, the wood ministry, or art materials. There is also the creation of a boardwalk that will span roughly 50m across the swampy area north of the Church (behind and to the right).

Is a boardwalk really necessary?

No, it is not necessary, but largely preferred by the conservation authorities. An alternate option would be to build a land bridge. This would cost about as much as building a boardwalk, and then more since we will be obtaining some of our own wood for clearing the trail. Furthermore, another issue that would arise from a land bridge, even with culverts, is reduced drainage efficiency, increasing flooding hazards.

How much will the boardwalk cost? 

This depends on multiple factors, such as how much wood we can use from clearing the trail, how much material we obtain for the supports (stone and gravel mounds at regular intervals), and other details. The upper scale, if we purchased everything on a slightly more elaborate boarwalk, was around $5,000. However, we have $1000 worth of grants awarded to us by the municipality towards this project. Thus the project may be done for a minimal sum, perhaps even for free(?).

What materials are needed? 

if you have any 1x6 or 2x4 kicking around, those would be great for the boardwalk. The longer they are the better. stone and gravel would be greatly appreciated for supports for the boardwalk. Also the trail may be covered in woodchips to help distinguish the trail. This depends on how much scrap wood we have left over. Thus a chipper would also be beneficial, as would a portable sawmill to turn our cleared lumber into fairly useable wood. 

How long has this been in the making?

This project has been slowly, sometimes very much so, moving forward for the past year or so. Permission was obtained from the RVCA and the municipality and an environmental assessment was performed. 

How much has this cost so far?

$0. Everything done so far has been done on a volounteer basis, primarily by Matthew Gates (arborist turned pastor) and myself, Scott Simpson (studied environmental topics). Pastor Ben Last has been overseeing the project and Tanys Mosher has been very good with being a point of contact. None of this work could have been done without them. 

Is there anything else?

There is! We hope to insert art from locals, particularly from the congregation, using natural materials that can withstand the seasons. Carvings, etchings, and masonry could all be used. All ideas welcome.

Who should we contact with questions or to help out? 

Please contact me, Scott Simpson, at Scott.simpson.scythers@gmail.com. Please use the subject line best suited for your e-mail out of the following: "Trail Art", "Trail Help" and "Trail Q&A". Any redundant questions will be posted to this blog as we move forward.