A short section of new asphalt pathway will link the Okotoks trail network and open up a section of parkland in the Drake Landing area.
Crews completed work on a short section of path last week near the south end of Drake Landing Common. The area has also been transformed from a predominantly grass area with rough trails. A new natural park area has been created with benches, native trees and bushes and a gravel path to improve accessibility in the area.
“It’s more of a place to walk through, visit, take in the spectacular views and really appreciate the scenery and the birds down in the ravine,” said Krista Michailuck, Okotoks parks manager.
She said the grass was tall and the area wasn’t easily accessible for some people.
“It’s not that easy to just walk through,” said Michailuck. “Other than the little goat trail that was there before to get down to the escarpment, it wasn’t that inviting to people to be able to walk through the space.”
The work is expected to cost around $125,000 once the Town finishes planting a tree buffer near 32 Street. The project was included in the Towns plans to expand the Okotoks Business Park.
The Town has also installed distinctive new wooden benches made from slabs cut from sections of poplar tree trunks. The benches were made and donated by Okotoks woodworker Don Barnes, who recently passed away. Michailuck said the Town will put up a memorial plaque in the park in recognition of Barnes’ donation. There are also new garbage bins and two natural area information signs in the area.
The new paved path will also fill in a missing link on the Town’s trail network.
“That will take you from 32 Street all the way east to the off-leash park and around the Drake Landing pond,” said Michailuck. “That was a key segment to complete on a regional pathway system.”
She said the pathway also creates a firebreak between nearby homes and the grassed escarpment to the south.
Michailuck hopes it will also bring out more people into the area, which could prevent further damage to the river valley escarpment. Earlier this year someone dug into the side of the river valley and built a large bike jump and there are several small jumps further down the hill.
“It will draw more people into the area to possibly discourage some of that jump building activity,” said Michailuck.
