Provincial funding sought for trail maintenance
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Last week, ORCBC met with Parliamentary Secretary Kelly Greene and senior staff from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy to discuss our proposal for a new BC Trail Fund. We believe the idea of a dedicated fund resonated and will continue to move the initiative forward. Stay tuned for an upcoming opportunity to show your support.
Here’s a summary of what we have proposed:
Issue
British Columbia’s 44,000 km of sanctioned recreational trails, 83% of which lie outside our provincial parks, need a dedicated trail fund to support their annual maintenance needs and limit liability exposure to the Province. Most trails are in a moderate to an advanced state of degradation due to the lack of stable funding for trail maintenance and ever-growing usage.
Trails across the province rely on over 200 community-based nonprofit organizations that provide essential construction and routine maintenance. They contribute an estimated minimum of 62,000 volunteer hours annually. These same groups report concern over trail deterioration due to the lack of necessary financial support to fund their upkeep. Given more funding, they report an extremely high likelihood of taking on further trail projects.
Well-managed trails and healthy outdoor spaces are integral to BC’s outdoor recreation economy and our reputation as a world-class destination. They facilitate rural economic development, achieve community health benefits, foster reconciliation through increased Indigenous representation in recreation, and reduce impacts on the environment, species at risk and archaeological values.
Supporting the ongoing work of community-based recreation groups is the most cost-effective way for the Province to manage trails and other recreational infrastructure. With easier access to dedicated funding for trail maintenance and enhancement, trail stewards can spend less time fundraising and more time improving BC’s trails and developing these valuable community assets.
Solution
The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC invites the Province of British Columbia to make a $10 million seed contribution to help launch the BC Trail Fund. The vision of the new fund is to establish a vehicle for engaging the broader community to partner with BC’s trail stewardship groups to pursue a world-renowned, sustainable provincial trail network.
The key objectives of the grant program are to:
Maintain and enhance the existing recreational trail network.
Improve the quality of the existing recreational trail network and user experience through improvements to safety, signage and access.
As funding permits, develop new trail and recreation infrastructure projects.
The fund will prioritize considerations that advance the goals of the Province and specifically those of the Trails Strategy for British Columbia. Priorities include:
Supporting Indigenous Peoples through involvement and cultural respect.
Promoting collaboration in trail planning, development and maintenance.
Fostering diverse and inclusive participation in trail-based recreation.
Increasing opportunities for physical activities for all ability levels.
Supporting sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Contributing to rural development and community-based tourism opportunities.
Many sectors are interested in seeing BC’s trail system restored and improved. To date, ORCBC has received 45 letters from communities, Indigenous and local governments, recreational groups, gear manufacturers and tourism showing their support for the fund.
The BC Trail Fund, when established, will offer reliable and consistent access to grants for eligible nonprofit organizations, First Nations and local governments that manage and maintain BC’s trails. It will be jointly managed by the ORCBC and the Vancouver Foundation, with oversight by an advisory committee. ORCBC will solicit additional contributions from other levels of government, corporations, foundations and individuals to create a significant endowment that will provide continuing benefits for BC communities and their visitors.
