WittyB次元官网网址檚 Lagoon Regional Park is getting a makeover to help people who travel with the aid of wheelchairs, walkers or canes, to better enjoy the area.

An accessible trail is being built through the forest from the West-Mont school parking lot to the teaching shelter in the park.

B次元官网网址淲e are constantly looking for ways to make the region parks system more accessible,B次元官网网址� said Lloyd Rushton, general manager of parks and community services for Capital Regional District parks. B次元官网网址淲e try to have a new accessibility project each year.B次元官网网址�

A CRD parks crew started construction of the trail in June. While the project is still in the works, the first 10 metres of the trail is near completion, with a hard-packed surface that can be compared to a sidewalk. A layer of fine gravel will top the path when it is finished in December.

Before work started, the trailhead was full of dense brush standing about six-feet high.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a refurbished trail, itB次元官网网址檚 being built from scratch,B次元官网网址� said Bobbi Neal, a member of Intermunicipal Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, a partner in the project.

Staying environmentally friendly is important for the project and the path is designed to B次元官网网址渕eander through the trees,B次元官网网址� said Metchosin Coun. Larry Tremblay, chair of the DistrictB次元官网网址檚 parks and trails advisory committee. The path is being built up over tree roots to protect them from damage.

B次元官网网址淲e are trying to preserve the natural species and look for the least amount of impact,B次元官网网址� Neal said.

In constructing the pathway, CRD parks crews are filling in dips and gaps in the trail with logs and boulders to ensure the grade isnB次元官网网址檛 too steep for people with mobility issues.

B次元官网网址淚deally they like to stay at five to seven per cent grades,B次元官网网址� Tremblay said.

Phase 1 of the project will finish when the trail reaches the teaching shelter and is about 350 metres long. That section costs $23,000 in materials and has been allocated out of the CRD parks budget. Parks is also covering the staff costs.

When funds are found for Phase 2, the path will continue to a view point at Sitting Lady falls, a short walk from the teaching shelter. The current path has protruding roots and stairs on route to the view point.

B次元官网网址�(The waterfalls) would be the grand jewel to the project,B次元官网网址� Tremblay said.

While there is already an accessible washroom near the teaching shelter, Rushton said in Phase 2 the washroom will either be upgraded or replaced.

The accessible path will provide a route for people to explore the park, it will not continue on to the lagoon due to the difficulty of the terrain. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 too steep and itB次元官网网址檚 quite a walk,B次元官网网址� Neal said.

The project is similar to an assessable trail built at Mount Work Regional Park in Highlands this year. B次元官网网址�(The WittyB次元官网网址檚 Lagoon trail) is a more natural experience with more challenging grades,B次元官网网址� Neal said.

The trail has been in the planning stages for the past two years and is a partnership between CRD Parks, the District of Metchosin, West-Mont Montessori School and IACDI.

B次元官网网址淭his is an example of what can be accomplished when you make a partnership,B次元官网网址� Rushton said. B次元官网网址淲e want to make our regional parks system as accessible as possible while using the resources that are available.B次元官网网址�

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com