The Trans Canada Trail’s route through Yorkton is getting connected together. Along with the existing trail areas in Logan Green and Jaycee Beach, the trail will go down Gladstone Avenue, as well as connect to the trail from Good Spirit Lake and York Lake.
The trail will now use Gladstone as the main corridor to connect the existing parts of the trail in the city.
Part of the reason for changing the trail is that it has changed outside of the city explains Taylor Morrison, Recreation Services Coordinator with the City of Yorkton. The city was one of the first to get on board with the Trans Canada Trail program back in the 1990s, and when plans for the trail in Canora and Good Spirit Lake to the north and Melville and York Lake to the south finalized their route the trail wound up entering the city at a different point than expected.
“With that change, we designated Gladstone as the main route that links all those trails in the city together, as well as closing the gap between the north and south points of the trails.”
It was a happy coincidence that Gladstone has already been modified to include biking paths, Morrison says, but one that worked out well for their goal of connecting the trails in the city. It also fits into the city’s efforts to promote more active transportation options in Yorkton.
“It’s a good opportunity to showcase our trail and network paths throughout the city aside from what has been designated the Trans Canada Trail. If you were to follow the path along Gladstone, you have the option of going down the Trans Canada Trail, or going down the new path along the Brodie recreational corridor... It’s really just to bring more awareness that there are other ways to get around the city, you don’t always have to get into your car, you can walk, get on your bike or go roller blading.”
There will be signage installed in both directions, to be installed in the spring in partnership with the Trans Canada Trail Association.
The goal of the Trans Canada Trail Association is to see the trail complete from coast to coast by 2017 as a way to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
