The Town of Okotoks has received grant money from the first-ever federal Active Transportation Fund.
The $400-million fund will provide grants over five years to support a transition away from cars to active transportation, in support of Canada's National Active Transportation Strategy, according to the government.
Active transportation includes walking, cycling and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, rollerblades, snowshoes, cross-country skis and more.
"We're really excited about it," Bridget Couban, parks technician, landscape design and construction with the Town, said of receiving the $50,000 grant.
The money will go toward the "planning phase" of the grant process, she explained.
Couban said this year Town staff completed an inventory of all existing active transportation systems in Okotoks. This included assessing the existing pathway and sidewalk network for condition and missing links.
"We're going to take that information and prepare a prioritized list of projects for long-term implementation," she said.
The expansive walkways in Okotoks are already conducive to encouraging active transportation, Couban added, although there is always room for upgrades.
"We're just trying to improve it and identify priority areas to make it even better," she said.
"It's just something we're looking forward to moving forward on and continuing to make the pathways and sidewalks in Okotoks fantastic."
