News the Town was considering removing dirt jumps from popular trails prompted an Okotoks youth to create an online petition.
When 12-year-old Chase Giroux learned about the Town’s plans to knock out jumps on trails, primarily in the river valley, due to concerns over environmental conservation and safety, he decided to speak out and take action.
“I decided if I could start a petition maybe I could get them to see and to not take it down,” said Giroux. “I’ve seen a lot of petitions on social media so I thought it would be cool if I could start one.”
He launched the petition late in the afternoon on July 12, and by end of day July 15 had collected more than 1,000 digital signatures.
As a regular of the dirt trails with his older brother and a few of their friends, Giroux said he’s not concerned about their safety, adding none of them have sustained injuries after riding them for years.
“I don’t think any of them are unsafe, in my opinion, he said.
Giroux, his older brother, and three friends tuned in to the Town of Okotoks council meeting on July 13, much to the surprise of his mom, Janice.
“I didn’t think they were going to, but I came down and they’d been watching the whole thing,” she said. “They had it up on the big screen and they had even bought themselves some special party drinks to celebrate at the end.
“They were super pumped when they heard the results.”
Those results were news that the Town will consult with user groups in the community prior to beginning any work on the dirt trails, and will be visiting the sites in question to re-evaluate their safety and determine whether some modifications could be made instead of removing them all together.
The unsanctioned bike trails are located along the Heritage Pathway, portions of the west well field, and along escarpments in Drake Landing and Crystal Ridge.
“The Town always tries to work in partnership with the community,” said Okotoks CAO Elaine Vincent. “When this was raised by council in June there was a plan put in place to meet with the user groups so we could sit down with them to explain the impacts.”
The Town’s report to council indicated the trails can impact vegetation, erosion and the stability of the slope, and pose a threat to all park users – not only bike riders.
Vincent said meetings between Town administration and community groups are now underway to address concerns on both sides and develop a plan of action to move forward that will ensure the safety of residents and the protection of the river valley.
“If both those requirements can be met I’m very certain we can come up with accommodations that allow both sides to achieve what they need,” she said.
The plan to remove dirt jumps initially came forward as part of a CAO report at the June 8 council meeting and was addressed a second time via councillor inquiry at the June 22 meeting after some councillors questioned the rationale behind taking down trails, noting it would take away a mode of recreation and physical activity for Okotoks youth.
Some residents took to social media, reaching out to Coun. Tanya Thorn via Facebook and subsequently by email to submit their concerns with removing the trails. Thorn brought it forward to council at the July 13 meeting.
“A lot of concern is being expressed about closing these and how this has been a sanctuary for many of our teens and young families,” she said. “I’m bringing it forward for council to maybe have administration go and relook at this and the approach.”
She walked along the trails at the Heritage Pathway and noted they were not newly established, evident by how the ground was worn. There were some safety issues but Thorn said some of those could be addressed.
“This is a great opportunity potentially for us to involve the community in making an area that is apparently well-loved and figure out what that balance is between the safety concerns and environmental concerns and the utilization of it,” she said.
Janice said she hopes the boys can be part of those user groups being consulted on the trails.
“I think the bulk of the people using the dirt jumps are these kids who are not in an organized user group and I think that would be a good thing, if some of the regular kids are consulted and they get to be a part of what needs to be conserved, what would be considered safe or not safe,” she said. “As the parent I’m going to help push for them getting to be involved in that process.
"It’s their town, they’re using it and they’re the ones who need to care for it."
Vincent said the Town will work with user groups on a site-by-site basis to see what may work as -is and what may need to be addressed. Some of those groups have volunteered to take care of the trails and maintain the jumps, and that will be part of the conversation as well, she said.
She noted the bike trails are not priority for the Town at the moment with reduced staffing due to COVID, so any plans will not be implemented in the near future.
“Everyone can take a deep breath,” said Vincent. “If we get this done this year, we get it done. If it waits until next year, that gives us the time to have the appropriate conversations. Unless there is an imminent safety risk we will not be acting on this at this point in time.
Krista Conrad, OkotoksToday.ca
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