Brenda Lebeck, Phyllis Robertson and Tara Fookes of Bouchie Lake had big smiles on their faces Sunday morning, surrounded by friends, family and members of the Bouchie Lake community.
And why not.
After two years of hard work, the trio took part in the grand opening of the Claymine Trail on the old Claymine Property which the Cariboo Regional District transferred to the Bouchie Lake Recreation Committee in July 2004.
“This is great, it’s a really good feeling,” Robertson said beaming from ear to ear.
“It’s been really positive,” Lebeck said of nurturing the two-year project from beginning to end.
The project received funding from the Quesnel Community Foundation, Recreational Infrastructure Canada and Union of British Columbia Municipalities totalling $17,000
Although the planning for the trail began just over two years ago, the initial steps to set the land aside were taken many years ago under the stewardship of Andy Motherwell during his tenure as a director with the Cariboo Regional District.
“This is here because of the foresight of our former director Andy Motherwell,” CRD Area B director Roberta Faust said.
On hand for the occasion, Motherwell was happy to see the project come to fruition.
“At last we’ve reached this point,” Motherwell said with a happy and humble smile about a piece of forested land, surrounded by agricultural land, he helped set aside more than 40 years ago.
The BLRC established the Claymine Property Committee to manage the 19.37 ha property and Robertson and Lebeck stepped in as co-chairs.
Soon the idea to use the property to promote fitness and an appreciation for nature was hatched.
“I go to fitness classes, and I’ve been involved with the Claymine Property off and on since 2005,” Robertson said.
“I put two and two together.”
“We want to promote a healthy lifestyle in the community,” Lebeck added.
“We want to bring fitness to nature and fun to fitness.”
Robertson and Lebeck tapped Fookes, a personal trainer who works at the Quesnel Regional Arts and Recreation Centre, on the shoulder to seek her advice on developing fitness stations along the trail.
Fookes immediately saw the potential and was more than happy to participate in the development of the trail and fitness stations.
“It’s an easy way to get your cardio and muscle training all in one place,” she said.
“I think they’ve [Robertson and Lebeck] have done a great job.”
The 1.4 km trail has three fitness stations and each is designed to provide users with multiple exercise options to suit their fitness level.
For example, the first station is a pair of balance beams. In addition to allowing users to work on their balance, users can also use the beams to do a variety of push-ups with different levels of difficulty, as well as various forms of tricep dips, Fookes explained as she demonstrated the various options.
The second station is a TRX Suspension Trainer, again with many excercise options and the third station is a hill climb.
Suggestions on how to use the fitness stations can be found on the website.
Although the fitness stations would be primarily a summer activity, the trails could also be used for hiking or snowshoeing in the winter, Lebeck added.
In addition to the fitness aspect of the trail, Robertson and Lebeck insisted on integrating the trail and fitness stations, into the natural gaps and geography of the property, to maintain the natural integrity of the property.
“We want people to enjoy the natural beauty,” Lebeck said.
“Teachers can have their science class out here.”
To promote the natural beauty of the trail, Robertson and Lebeck want to have signs at natural points of interest highlighting the natural components of the property.
“We share the trails with deer, moose, herons, squirrels and other creatures,” Robertson said.
“We haven’t scared them out.”
In addition to the satisfaction of seeing the trail completed with three fitness stations, for Robertson and Lebeck, the project had another important component, community involvement.
From the preparation of the trails such as the felling of dead trees, trail clearing, a little bit of logging, hauling stone and a host of other tasks, more than 60 individuals contributed time and energy to the project.
“Neighbours have pitched in along the way and the contractors went above and beyond our expectations,” Lebeck said.
“Everyone along the way has put in a little extra effort.”
Faust also admitted she was most impressed by the community involvement.
“They’ve [Roberston and Lebeck] engaged the entire community,” Faust said.
“So much has been given to this project by the community, materials and labour.
“We have pure gold here in our volunteers.”