Rick Hansen Foundation Access4All Barrier Buster project: Grasslands Loop Accessible Trail

The City of Kamloops is pleased to announce it has received a $30,000 funding grant through the Rick Hansen Foundation’s Access4All Program, a Canada 150 Signature Initiative aimed at breaking down barriers for people living with disabilities. With the participation of the Government of Canada, this grant will support Kamloops in its Barrier Buster Project: Grasslands Loop Accessible Trail, which is located in the Peterson Creek Nature Park.

The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department will be working with a contractor to redesign the existing Grasslands Loop with the goal of making it more accessible for those in wheelchairs or with mobility issues.

The Barrier Buster Project will begin in May 2017. The parks crews and contractor will convert the existing single-track, dirt/gravel path into an accessible path. The trail will be reconfigured by widening, flattening, and solidifying the road. Once started, the construction will take approximately two weeks to complete.

Mayor Peter Milobar is proud to see the Barrier Buster Project contributing to making Kamloops more accessible. He said, “with support from the Government of Canada and the Rick Hansen Foundation, the City of Kamloops wants to help ensure that every individual has the opportunity to realize their full potential, and it begins with creating inclusive and accessible communities all across our nation. We are proud to be part of the Canada 150 Access4All Program, and the Grasslands Loop Accessible Trail will play an important role in building a world without barriers. We would like to thank our community for their ongoing support in realizing this vision.” Similarly, Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, praised the project, saying “Kamloops is such a beautiful community with so many trails to enjoy. This funding will remove barriers and create opportunities for everyone to enjoy the Grasslands Loop in Peterson Creek Park.”