The Banded Peak Trail, located within the Hamlet of Bragg Creek, will soon connect to the Bragg Creek Provincial Park trails.
During Rocky View County council Feb. 4, council unanimously agreed to apply for a license of occupation with Alberta Environment to allow for the connector trail.
The request to create the connecting natural trail came from the Greater Bragg Creek Trail Association. Members asked county council to allow for the connector. It is a smaller, more manageable loop than the route originally suggested in the area structure plan.
“We are very excited to be proceeding with it,” said Robert Sadee, a member of the association, following the council meeting. He said they have been working on it for a number of years, noting that “it takes awhile to get all of the ducks lined up.”
The current Banded Peak Trail connects the Banded Peak Elementary School and the Bragg Creek Community Centre. By providing the connector path, members of these centres can now access trails within the Bragg Creek Provincial Park, creating a significant looping opportunity for trail users, a report to council explains.
“The Banded Peak Trail goes through our back (of the property,)” said Banded Peak principal Deborah McLaren.
“It’s a natural trail and we would be looking at creating education programs around that,” said McLaren of having access to more trails.
Construction and maintenance of the connector trail will be born by the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association.
Sadee expects the connection to be completed this summer. Rocky View County applies for the license of occupation because the connector is on county land.
In 2005, the Centennial Trail between the commercial area in Bragg Creek and the Bragg Creek Provincial Park was completed. In 2009, the Banded Peak Pathway was completed, linking the Bragg Creek Community Centre with the Banded Peak Elementary School.
