Everyone is invited to a community trail-building day on Sunday, July 19 on Allan Road.
Members of the Chilliwack Park Society have been planning the trail day as their community kickoff, said society spokesman Marc Greidanus.
"We are expecting a bigger turnout this Sunday, including some prospective politicians, and hopefully some community members," he said.
Volunteers have started the initial trail work with an eye to creating a network of trails in the hillsides as part of the Chilliwack Community Forest Project.
So far they've roughed in sections of a 2 km loop trail for beginners, and will be starting on the 7 km trail.
An access road right up to a picnic shelter has been completed and the beginner loop has been flagged and is ready to be cleared.
"This next piece of trail we have planned, and the piece we just completed, relies heavily on the expertise of the Fraser Valley Mountain Bikers Association," he said.
FVMBA president Ernie Kliever of Chilliwack has been "a real force for sustainable trail building" in Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley, Greidanus added, and will be involved in future events.
Kliever has been spearheading the effort to put in a new alpine trail on Spencer's Ridge, between the Canadian border peaks and Mcguire peak.
"It will take a few years to be fully realized, but once the trail is complete it will put Chilliwack on the map with respect to alpine biking."
Join the the trail building day on July 19 at 51996 Allan Road at 1 p.m.
Bring some water, gloves, closed-toe shoes, a shovel or pick if possible, and some friends.
See more at chilliwackparksociety.ca
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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