Cultus Lake Park Board

Park board passes motion to advance multi-use biking, pedestrian trail on Vedder Mountain

Jan 19, 2023 | 12:08 PM

CULTUS LAKE — Commissioners from the Cultus Lake Park Board, the governing body for Cultus Lake Park, have passed a motion that moves forward the proposal of a multi-use trail that would connect Cultus Lake with the north side of Vedder Mountain within the City of Chilliwack.

More specifically, commissioners approved a motion at its meeting Wednesday night (Jan. 18) that directs Chief Administrative Officer Joe Lamb to work with the Fraser Valley Mountain Bikers Association and move forward with the first of many steps in the development and construction of a trail north of Parmenter Road, once insurance is confirmed.

“That the Cultus Lake Park Board receive the letter dated December 21, 2022, from Michael Woods, President, FVMBA regarding building a multi-use trail on Cultus Lake property; and that the Cultus Lake Park Board instruct the Chief Administrative Officer to complete the due diligence and give approval to complete the trail once insurance is provided,” the official motion read, according to an email from Rachel Litchfield of the park board office.

Woods advised Fraser Valley Today in an email Friday morning (Jan. 20) that the province will still need to approve the multi-use trail since a section of it crosses Crown land. An archaeological assessment will also need to be completed, Woods said.

“So, lots of work to do,” Woods wrote in an email to Fraser Valley Today. “The CLPB approval is one of many things required to get this trail approved to be built and that specific proposed trail crosses CLPB, Crown Land and City of Chilliwack property and we require approval from all parties. We also require an archeological assessment and then need to acquire the vast amount of funding that would be needed to build that trail to adaptive mountain biking standards.”

The Fraser Valley Mountain Bikers Association had filed a formal request asking the park board to let it build and maintain a multi-use trail north of Parmenter Road, and west of the Emil Anderson public works yard, on Cultus Lake Park property.

The proposed multi-use trail would enable cyclists and pedestrians to access and utilize the trail, which would connect with a trail currently under construction by the City of Chilliwack on the north side of Vedder Mountain.

FVMBA defines itself as a registered non-profit organization whose mission is to build a culture of inclusive mountain bike communities and sustainable trail networks.

“The trail will be designated as multi-use and suitable for both foot traffic and non-motorized bike traffic and will be built to Adaptive Mountain Biking and Province of British Columbia trail standards,” the December 2022 letter from FVMBA president Michael Woods stated. “This trail will be a vital connection for non-motorized traffic from the City of Chilliwack trail on the north side of Vedder Mountain connecting to the south side and Cultus Lake.”

Image: Screenshot Cultus Lake Park Board documents / A map of the proposed multi-use trail that would connect Cultus Lake residents with a City of Chilliwack trail under construction on the north side of Vedder Mountain, south of Vedder Mountain Road.

FVMBA believes the trail addition can cement Chilliwack’s reputation as an adaptive cycling hub and further promote Chilliwack’s tourism efforts.

“Working with the Kootenay Adaptive Sports Association and Tourism Chilliwack we hope this proposed new trail can become an anchor in developing Chilliwack as a hub for adaptive sports and help draw more tourism to the Cultus Lake community during shoulder seasons,” Woods wrote in his letter to the park board. “It will also provide Cultus Lake residents with another recreational asset and a sustainable trail connecting users to the City of Chilliwack park on the north side.”