The ambitious project to upgrade the nature trail at Napoleon Lake is continuing this spring and could be completed in 2016, a year earlier than planned.
Last summer, members of the Rotary Club of Innisfail finished construction of two viewing platforms with boardwalks at the north and south sides of the lake. That part of the project was followed in the fall with the town creating a graded path from the nature trail to the viewing platforms.
The project then moved forward last month with the town hiring a contractor to flatten and smooth out the kilometre and half long nature trail from the south viewing deck to an area near the off-leash dog park at the north end of the lake. That work was completed in two days.
“It will get rid of some the bumps and hopefully remove some of the tree roots; smooth them out so there are no tripping hazards,” said Henry Wong, the town's director of community services, who added the grooming will also blend in the old “goat” trail that goes through portions of the main trail. “With the trail being smoothed out a little bit it will make it easier for not only hikers but also for people who want to cycle down that trail. It is not going to be smooth like your paved trails but it will be smoother than what it used to be.”
Wong said the cost to the town for the contractor was about $4,000. The project, which had an estimated original timeline of three years with a total budget of $92,000, is a partnership between the town and Rotary, with the service club paying for two-thirds of the cost and the town picking up the rest.
Wong said the town will be installing garbage receptacles and up to five benches along the nature trail, with one bench going on each of the new platforms.
As well, part of the upgrades at Napoleon Lake will include a 139-metre paved connector path that runs from the west end of 47 Street, just past the north end of the lake to near the south viewing deck. Council approved the cost and tendering contract for that work, part of an overall paving package for several projects in town, on June 13.
The town and Rotary are also in discussions for new interpretive signage at the lake.
Wong said the number of signs to be installed has not yet been decided but added some will “probably” be put on the viewing decks to recognize the efforts of the Rotary club. Others will be put up to mark points of interest and information on natural vegetation in the area, with detailed content to be decided later.
Monty Wild, Rotary member and key project organizer, said members from the service group's Local Projects Committee are expected to meet with Wong this summer to discuss the placement and types of new signage at Napoleon Lake.
In the meantime, Rotary members have already received positive public feedback about the improvements that have already been completed, said Wild.
“Many of the Rotary members who use the park and trail have heard comments from a number of people who use the trail now as opposed to before, and we have heard nothing but positive comments,” said Wild.
Henry Wong, director of community services
"With the trail being smoothed out a little bit it will make it easier for not only hikers but also for people who want to cycle down that trail."
