Some Longview residents no longer feel in the dark after getting a glimpse of what a glow stone trail could look like in the west-end of their community.
Some Longview residents no longer feel in the dark after getting a glimpse of what a glow stone trail could look like in the west-end of their community.
More than 30 residents attended the Longview Arts, Recreation and Community Society's public meeting at the Longview Community Hall April 27 to learn more about the Little New York Trail the Longview Village council approved two weeks ago.
The $165,000, one-kilometre trail along the ridge of the Highwood River will include 50 pounds of three to eight millimetre glow pebbles incorporated throughout the pathway and two-inch diameter kidney-shaped glow rocks staggered every three metres along the edges, allowing people to see where they are walking at night.
“I thought it would be all glowing, very intrusive,” said Neil Howk at last week's meeting. “I liked the idea of having the pathway, but the light didn't make sense.”
Howk said once he saw the demonstration of what the glow rocks look like in the dark he feels it won't give off as much light as he originally feared, but it's created another concern.
He's afraid people who use the path at night will request more light near the bridges that will be built over three existing drainage ditches and at the end of the path.
“I'm right on the very end where there is supposed to be a turnaround,” he said. “I'm worried that residents will ask that lights be put out there. If you have bridges you are going to need lights on the bridges.”
Society member Dennis Kilburn said the trail will give off adequate light for people to see where they are going at night, but not so much that it will be visible from anyone's home.
“A lot of them are concerned about how light it's going to be,” he said. “If you are looking from your back yard 100 feet away you won't be able to see it until you get closer.”
Kilburn said the glow-in-the-dark trail is a heated topic in the community.
“We are trying to minimize the polarization and work with residents to come up with a common goal that we are all happy with,” he said. “You can't please everybody, even though you want to. As long as people have input that's the main thing. I hope everybody enjoys it and hopefully we can add on to that path in the years to come.”
While resident Jan Dyck supports the pathway, she considers the glow stones and resin finish a waste of money.
“I don't feel we need something this extravagant,” she said. “I just don't think it's necessary.”
Dyck said that money should be used for maintenance and upkeep in coming years as she's concerned it will come out of taxpayers' pockets.
Tom Hill is also concerned about the future burden on taxpayers, saying a contingency plan should have been implemented to address liability and future maintenance for the trail, as well as the proposed benches, garbage and smoking receptacles, dog bag stations and historical signage.
Society chairperson Michele Geistlinger said any future costs and maintenance are the responsibility of the Village.
In the meantime, she said the society is eager to begin construction now that residents have a better idea of what the trail will look like.
“We are very pleased with the turnout and feel that most folks are relieved of their concerns after seeing the demo in the basement,” she said.
“It gave them a much better idea of how it would look from a distance. Quite a number of people were pretty surprised at how dim it was.”
After gathering public opinion, Geistlinger said the society will use the blue glow stones and are calling the pathway Little New York Trail, in honour of the town's official name.
Before the shovel goes into the ground this spring or summer, Geistlinger said surveyors will determine the village's property line to determine exactly where the trail will go, taking into consideration the existing drainage ditches to avoid water overflow.
“One area that dips considerably will have a bridge,” she said. “We will get it designed and engineered and manufactured by a local company.”
To pay for the trail, the society received $10,000 from the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, $35,000 from the Legacy Oil and Gas Community Association, $35,000 from the Daryl K. Seaman Canadian Hockey Fund Grant Program, $1,550 in community fundraisers and $83,446 from the Alberta Culture and Tourism Community Facility Enhancement Program.
