$5M committed for rail trail

Photo: Contributed - Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative

A Vernon group behind the purchase of the abandoned Okanagan rail corridor has pledged to raise $5 million to develop it.

Brad Clements with the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative made the announcement during the official opening of the Yes campaign in Lake Country this week.

The Yes campaign is supporting a referendum in Lake Country that seeks support to borrow up to $2.6 million for half its share of the 16 kilometres of CN track that runs through the municipality.

"Our position has always been the municipalities buy the land, and we will help raise the money to turn it into a trail for the benefit of the communities. We didn't want any more burden on taxpayers," said Clements.

"We have a group together that is preparing for a fundraising campaign."

While they won't begin fundraising until the ink is dry on any deal, Clements said his group already has a firm commitment from two prominent residents for $350,000 to kickstart the campaign.

Clements won't identify the benefactors, except to say one is a property owner in Vernon and the other owns property in Lake Country.

As for the money, Clements said the group does have a vision for its use.

He said a civil engineer on the team has been researching trail construction and how to convert railways into trails.

"Our vision is we build a top-quality, very expensive trail for a couple of reasons," said Clements.

"One is that will then attract more people. If you have a trail that has potholes and is not finished, well it won't attract people. The other is if you spend your money up front ... a proper road surface and proper drainage, then your maintenance costs go down."

"And, there are tons of programs out there and most of them match dollars. If we can raise $5 million from local residents, that could turn into $10 million."