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UPDATE: 12:28 p.m.
Supporters of the rail trail construction plan are excited by the start of a campaign to raise $7.8 million to be used to put in a gravel trail from Coldstream to Kelowna.
“It's been a long time coming and now that the municipalities, with the support from the province and the Okanagan Indian Band, have created this opportunity for us to build a trial, now it's in our hands,” said Brad Clements of the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative.
Clements encourages people to go on the website where they can donate and watch as the funds grow.
The cost of construction for each meter of the trail works about to $160, said Clements.
“So we'll be tracking meters funded to reach that goal of approximately 50 kilometres.”
The search is also on for campaign partners including businesses, Rotary clubs and hiking and biking groups that want to help the campaign in some way.
Also being sought are campaign ambassadors “who are excited, passionate about this,” said Clements.
The ambassadors are expected to go to Okanagan communities to sell the project and hopefully raise some money.
The Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative begins efforts today to raise $7.8 million in two years.
That's the goal of the group as it starts to build a network of supporters who will pay for a gravel path along the 48-kilometre route from Kelowna, through Lake Country, to Coldstream.
“Fundraising has started,” proclaims the groups's website where it hopes to raise donations online. “The magnificent discontinued rail corridor between Coldstream and Kelowna has been secured for public use. Now it is our turn to make this rail trail happen ... one metre at a time.”
Fundraiser Brad Clements has said he is counting on small donations, noting 30,000 gifts of $225 each would get the society to its goal, with $6.66 million from donations and $1.2 million from grants.
“If you donate $1 to this trail, then $1 goes to trail construction,” Clements has said.
The $22-million right-of-way was bought from CN Rail by local governments, but there was no further tax money for development.
