Photo by Vince Fedoroff
MAKING THE PITCH – Michael Kramer of Cross Country Yukon addresses city council Monday. Council was hearing public feedback to the proposed $16-million capital budget for 2016.
Skiers seek paved trail at Mount McIntyre
A paved, non-motorized trail at the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club – also connecting the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre with the Canada Games Centre and the path along Hamilton Boulevard – would benefit local cross-country skiers, city council heard Monday night.
A paved, non-motorized trail at the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club – also connecting the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre with the Canada Games Centre and the path along Hamilton Boulevard – would benefit local cross-country skiers, city council heard Monday night.
It would also help a long list of others who could make use of the trail. They range from those participating in the annual kids’ triathlon to skateboarders and others, Michael Kramer of Cross Country Yukon told council.
Kramer was the only person to address council during the public input session into the proposed $16-million capital budget for 2016.
He argued the budget should include funding of about $75,000 for the proposed paved trail Cross Country Yukon is working toward. The entire project is expected to cost approximately $1 million.
Providing that funding, he said, would demonstrate the city’s support and help the project move forward as the organization works to leverage other funds from the territorial and federal governments along with a trust fund initiative which would allow residents to donate to the project as well.
As Kramer outlined, the paved trail would allow cross-country skiers a place to train on roller skis in the warmer months and perhaps provide for a longer ski season, as paved trails don’t need a lot of snow to ski on.
There would also be no maintenance involved with it, as there’d be no need for snow shovelling.
Pointing to the heavy use the Millennium Trail sees throughout the year by a variety of users, Kramer suggested this could provide similar recreational benefits for Whitehorse residents looking to get outside, whether on skis, rollerblades or by foot.
Kramer also praised the work of skiers who have often volunteered their time on trail work.
He noted he’s convinced that if they were able to asphalt, the group wouldn’t be seeking funding for the proposed two-phased project.
Whether the city opts to add the project to the 2016 capital budget won’t be known until early in the new year when council votes on second and third readings of the capital spending plan.
Jeff O’Farrell, the city’s manager of legislative services, said the city received no written submissions on the proposed capital budget.
Coun. Rob Fendrick attended Monday’s meeting via conference call from Juneau, where he represented the city at former mayor Greg Fisk’s funeral.
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Comments (15)
Up 13 Down 12
BnR on Dec 22, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Simple solution; no more funding for any of these "special interest groups". How about that? And the city should just shut down the Canada Games Center, because I never use it and i'ts just for the "entitled". Same with the hockey arenas. Let's shut those. Those whiny entitled hockey moms and dads, I don't want my tax dollars maintaining those facilities. Get the point?
Funny thing is, everyone else's special interest groups are the "whiny, entitled" ones, but the special interest group the commenter belongs to is just fine.
Up 27 Down 4
Izzy on Dec 21, 2015 at 7:18 am
What is almost comical is the non-taxpaying component of the defeated Soccer Stadium proponents suggesting as to how funding should go for other special interest groups as though they had a stake in things they don't pay for. The main spokesperson for that group falls into that category. User pay or no say.
Up 5 Down 11
Jonathan Colby on Dec 20, 2015 at 8:18 am
Come rip up the paved trail behind Takhini and the college and use that. What an eyesore.
Up 46 Down 4
ProScience Greenie on Dec 19, 2015 at 10:53 am
'Whitehorse, the Wilderness City' - yet these outdoors types want more pavement and no doubt more street lights along with it which will add even more light pollution - all on the taxpayer's dime and with lots of C02 generated.
Up 49 Down 4
Pjt1959 on Dec 18, 2015 at 6:48 pm
Well, we have the paved trail that is millennium trail that can be used and the paved trail up by the CGC and paved trails in Whistle Bend already paid for by tax payer. If you want it, charge more fees and pay for it. Each member of the ski club could pay $2,500 for a couple of years then it should almost be paid for. Tax increases are getting out of hand and council has to say no as there are trails that can be used. Yes, you have to pay to use millennium trail but not a million out of tax payers pockets as it all comes from the tax payer. It is not free money. That is my rant.
Up 68 Down 4
Get a grip on reality on Dec 18, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Yet another special interest group seeking taxpayer dollars for their hobby.
People, get a grip on reality.
Tax dollars are for infrastructure EVERYONE uses.
If you want infrastructure for your hobby fund it yourselves.
Up 15 Down 23
There are more on Dec 18, 2015 at 12:49 pm
ATV and snow machines in Whitehorse than anything else and they get nothing.
The City is in trouble while the cost of services go up 6% and taxes go up and the Mayor and some Councillors want to give away taxpayers money.
The soccer complex would be a major economic benefit to the Yukon but when you have people that have no knowledge with managing any municipal or economic services, what can anyone expect?
Up 55 Down 6
June Jackson on Dec 18, 2015 at 12:10 pm
I think $75,000 is a possible target to reach with some fund raising. There are a lot of ways to raise some money.
As usual, I am not in favor of anything that would raise my taxes and right now..I'm all sported out. Everyone with a favorite sport has a hand out for public funds. You love it? support it yourself.
No soccer, no pavement: What do you mean soccer would cost the City taxpayer nothing? Were you going to put up a personal guarantee? Possibly a mortgage on your house to pay for it? Otherwise..it was NOT free money. What's with this 'they better not be funding cross country skiing" attitude? or What?
Up 54 Down 7
Always a Yukoner on Dec 18, 2015 at 11:15 am
I've never heard anything more ridiculous then a paved trail, give me a break!! High maintenance or what!! Cross country skiers in the past have done fine with the trails there, seriously now, can Yukoners not find something else to whine about, they just want want want. Maybe look around you, you have the natural beauty of nature there, enjoy what you have and be thankful where you live where you can take a 10 minute drive to so many trails!!
Up 56 Down 11
Mark on Dec 17, 2015 at 8:54 pm
How about an ATV/snowmobile only path , like his example, it too would need no maintenance.You don't even have to pave it! This request put forward by the ski club is a perfect example of "give them and inch and they'll want more" Unbelievable nerve of this group of greed and selfishness! You are bored of your hundreds of miles of trails already? He says they want $75,000 towards a million dollar project? How about.....you pony up $925,000 first. Did you plan to ask for money on every budget year after year? Sounds like Sima BS to me.
Up 31 Down 9
Whistle while you ski on Dec 17, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Maybe the skiers should roller blade down at Whistle Bend…I hear the pavement is new and fine and Whistle Bend needs activity and money right YP?. I concur that Gladish should have stayed out of this argument…saying no no no to funding for two huge user groups, soccer and athletics/track, while the 'court' room is filled with skiers anxious to have their paved million dollar path. We need a track people. FH destroyed the only one we had and it was crappy too. My suggestion is to try and put a track at Porter Creek Secondary School. New principal, very progressive and supportive and their baseball field out back is rarely used…great location for a track. As for the soccer fields, sounds like this city is never going to let that happen. Maybe put the fields at FH?? in future?
Up 14 Down 38
Stu Whatman on Dec 17, 2015 at 6:39 pm
They are not asking for much funding from the city and the paved trail will be available to all non-motorized recreational activities. I want the city to contribute 10% to 15% of the cost of this plan.
And skiers will not have to train on the shoulder of the Alaska Highway anymore. It will be much safer for them!
If you think its costing too much- 1 million for 5 kms of paved trail, think about the Alaska Highway project which will include paved ATV trails on both sides of the highway. Now that is a little too much!
Up 23 Down 6
Jimmy Mac on Dec 17, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Don't mountain bikers and disc golfers also use the Mt. Mac trails?
How would this paving adversely affect those sports?
Up 82 Down 9
Yukoner on Dec 17, 2015 at 3:38 pm
And I could use a million dollars. What the Hell is with people these days? All you hear in this little city is I want, I want, like a bunch of children.
Up 73 Down 15
no soccer no pavement on Dec 17, 2015 at 2:59 pm
I would hope not. If the city won't support soccer that would have cost them nothing, they better not be funding cross country skiing. There are enough trails around that they can practice on.