CRD supports two NDIT applications

The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) supports two different project grant applications to the Northern Development Initiative Trust.

The first project supported was Bouchie Lake’s request for $30,000 in grant funding under the Community Places Program for improvements to their outdoor rink. The program provides up to $30,000 in funding to support the creation, restoration, and enhancement of community spaces that will improve amenities and enhance life quality. The grant is a part of the $51,084 project to upgrade the outdoor rink.

Matching funding required for the NDIT grant is allocated in the North Cariboo Recreation and Parks 2021 capital budget, amounting to $21,084. Up to $35,000 is included for this project in the proposed capital plan and may be utilized if approved, and the NDIT grant funding is unsuccessful.

The project includes:

• Replace rink boards and rink board caps
• Seal all gaps with weather and UV resistant caulking
• Rebuild radius corners with solid lumber
• Rebuild three-man gate and tractor gate • Prime, paint and seal surfaces with weather-resistant paint
• Install new puck board
• Fill all gaps with weather and UV resistant Sikaflex
• Install concrete ramp at tractor gate
• Fill all concrete gaps in the floor
• Rebuild and paint basketball frames, hoops, poles, and backstops
• Paint proper hockey, basketball, and pickleball lines on concrete with weather and UV resistant durable outdoor paint.

The second project is for the Gold Rush Cycling Club. The request is for $79,541 in grant funding under the Recreation Infrastructure Program to expand the Wonderland Trail Network. The total project cost is $113,630 with a complimentary application for $30,000 from the Province through the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program and a $7,000 contribution from the Gold Rush Cycling Club.

This expansion will include the following new two new trails.

The first trial, called Jimmy 2 Cane, will be an intermediate (blue) trail with numerous small to medium-sized jumps. The main trail is a dirt surfaced single-track trail, with two wooden bridges to navigate the terrain. The lower half of Jimmy 2 Canes will stay on a ridge before dropping down and through a large area of blowdown. The main route will be a mellower, intermediate (blue) line to a boardwalk section and a chute. An alternative, a black diamond line, will follow a steep hill into a chute with a wooden berm and onto a boardwalk. The estimated per meter construction cost is $30.

The second trail is called the Madd Hatter, a 2280 meter long, steep double black diamond downhill trail with a mellow down-country top section. The trail will be a narrow single-track trail with rock faces and rock rolls.  An alternate 180-meter section will feature a rock roll leading into a large wooden down ramp and bridge section. The cost is estimated to be $23/meter.