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Coal Discovery Trail saved

The Coal Discovery Trail from Hosmer to Sparwood has been taken under the wing of the District of Sparwood
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The Coal Discovery Trail is a popular trail for biking

The Coal Discovery Trail from Hosmer to Sparwood has been taken under the wing of the District of Sparwood after the Regional District of the East Kootenay motioned to decommission the trail.

In the regular council meeting on August 19 the Sparwood council unanimously voted to take on that section of the trail. Council directed staff to work with the RDEK to transfer the Coal Discovery Trail land use permits for those portions of the trail not being transferred to the Fernie Trails Alliance over to the District of Sparwood.

At the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board Meeting on August 1, a resolution was passed to decommission the Coal Discovery Trail from Sparwood to Hosmer and transfer the tenure for the Fernie to Hosmer section to the Fernie Trial Alliance. The Coal Discovery Trail was completed in 2004 creating a linking trail between Sparwood, Hosmer, and Fernie. The trail from Fernie to Hosmer sees high usage and is in excellent condition. The first 5 to 6 km, starting in Sparwood, heading to Hosmer is in good condition with the remaining 10 – 12 km to Hosmer in need of maintenance.

“We, the District of Sparwood, are disappointed by the RDEK’s decision to decommission the trail,” said Mayor Lois Halko. The council also discussed the possibility of engaging a local organization or working with the TransCanada trail in the future.