The Sea to Sky Trail is one step closer to completion with the
receipt of $62,000 in funding.
The funding, which comes collectively from the American Friends
of Whistler (AFOW) and the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Environmental Fund
(WBFEF), will see directional and interpretive signs installed on the trail in
the spring and summer of 2009.
The AFOW grant of $50,000 is going towards signage, while the
WBFEF grant, worth $12,000, is going towards trail building equipment.
“The American Friends of Whistler are pleased to be able to
support the Sea to Sky Trail,” AFOW Chair Rod Rohda said in a news release.
“The health and social benefits of this world class project are entirely
consistent with the goals and the Mission of the AFOW.”
The Sea to Sky Trail was first envisioned in 1991. It’s
intended for mountain bikes, but will also be used by pedestrians, equestrians,
snowshoers, cross country skiers and wheelchair users. Once completed, it’s
expected to stretch all the way from Squamish to D’Arcy, a distance of 180
kilometres.
The new funding supplements a $300,000 grant from the Whistler
Blackcomb Foundation and $800,000 in capital funding for work in each of the
District of Squamish and Resort Municipality of Whistler.
The Province of British Columbia also donated a LocalMotion grant of $50,000 for the trail portion along Highway 99 in Pemberton.
