The Mount Elizabeth Cycling Association (MECA) has made a strategic shift in its trail development projects, placing a temporary hold on two proposed trail networks in Kitimat due to land access and budgetary issues. Instead, MECA will concentrate its efforts on improvements to the Haisla Hills network, and prepare for the MECA Fest mountain biking competition later in 2024.
In the Coho Flats trail development on the northwest edge of town, MECA is revisiting its original plan in light of higher-than-anticipated cost projections. MECA secretary Daniel Chimko is optimistic the area will still see trail developments, but possibly on a lower scale than the association originally planned for.
Trail development in the Kuldo area has also been paused due to land access issues.
“It’s something we’ve been working on for a long time with the landowner and the district. It’s just one of those things that takes time,” said Chimko.
Instead of development in 2024, MECA has decided to focus on improvements to the Haisla Hills network, which was completed last year along the southern edge of Hwy 37. The association is also gearing up for the second iteration of MECA Fest, their annual mountain biking competition. They’ll use this time to focus on their goal of expanding the events.
The District of Kitimat is helping finance the trails project with grants totalling $600,750 over three years, in addition to annual maintenance funding. District council agreed to defer the last grant payment of $250,000 to the 2025 budget discussions.
In a letter addressed to council, the MECA board expressed their intentions to use this time effectively. “We will use the time to work with landowners and the public to establish a construction plan for 2025 that will best utilize these public funds for the benefit of the community.”