Mayerthorpe Begins Phase III of Trails

 

By Zachary Edwards

 

The Town of Mayerthorpe has begun the third phase of its trail plan, a plan that’s set to connect the entirety of the Town via sidewalks, walking trails, and pathways. The third phase continues the trail-making project started in 2009. The trails provide an economical way to explore Mayerthorpe.

 

The trail-making project began in 2009 when Alliance Pipeline donated $10,000 to start construction on a network of trails around Mayerthorpe. Phase I, which runs along the Hwy 22 Boulevard from east of Fallen Four Park to 48th Avenue, was finished in 2010. Phase II began the next year, funded through the recreation budget, and runs from 50 Ave to 52 Ave, also along Hwy 22 Boulevard.

 

The project was put on hold following the completion of Phase II. In 2015, the Town put together a special Parks, Recreation and Culture Strategic Master Plan. According to Joanne St. Martin, Mayerthorpe’s FCSS/Recreation Director, the trails are making use of Mayerthorpe’s naturally-occurring geography. “[The plan was] done with fitness/wellness facilities and walking trails/pathways identified as priorities for our community,” St. Martin explained in an interview. “Based on these recommendations, we looked at how we could connect the walking trail with natural pathways that were already present.”

 

Looking at the existing trails, Phase III was created to connect more of the Town using the already-existing network. “We established that the most economical way to connect would be to go from the west end of the Fallen Four Park to the west edge of town property,” St. Martin said. “Then go north to connect with the Mayerthorpe Sports Grounds. So in 2016, we have started Phase III from Fallen Four to west boundary.”

 

Phase III of the project has a scheduled completion date sometime next year. After that, St. Martin says the Town hopes to move onto Phase IV. “There are old established pathways that run north of the Sports Grounds through Paddle River Park, which is on the west boundary of the Town and go through to the trestle area to meet with Hwy 22,” she said. “This is where we link the Sports Grounds to the next part of walking trail/pathway system.”