One of the connection points planned for the proposed Gull Lake Regional Trail System is Sandy Point Beach. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

GULL LAKE TRAIL SYSTEM PLANNED

Lacombe County approves Recreation Capital Plan

Oct 3, 2024 | 2:06 PM

Lacombe County council has approved the 2025-2029 Recreation Capital Plan, which projects a variety of trail system and playground expansions.

The decision was made in the Sept. 26 regular council meeting; however, the future projects will ultimately be subject to subsequent budget approvals.

The following projects have been proposed:

• 2025 – Sandy Point Beach playground expansion
• 2026 – Gull Lake Regional Trail System construction
• 2027 – Kuhnen Park boardwalk construction
• 2028 – Trans Canada Trail phase three construction
• 2029 – No proposed projects

Bill Cade, director of operations for the County, is most excited for the Gull Lake Regional Trail System, which he says will connect multiple communities together.

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GULL LAKE TRAIL SYSTEM PLANNED

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“That connection would go from the Wilson’s Beach and Anderson Park areas on the east side of Gull Lake, south and around to the existing Bentley Trail along Highway 12, and that would give access to Bentley. Then, we are finishing off the trail to Sandy Point from Highway 12 as well, so it would be a significant connection point,” Cade explained.

The proposed connection would be roughly 12 kilometres of trail depending on the final route decided, and that will be in addition to the length of the existing trails in Bentley and the Village of Gull Lake.

“It connects all these communities together and will bring a lot of people to the communities as well. Once you have a trail system, people will come to them,” said Cade.

The trail route is slated to be finalized in 2025, and pending budget approval and an approved route, construction of the connection could begin in 2026.

Currently, the project has an estimated budget of $2.5 million, with each kilometre expected to cost anywhere from $10,000 to $275,000, Cade said; he added that the County’s standard for regional trails is to have the system paved, which is what they have planned.

Cade said that the County has started the process of reaching out to landowners in the area and has received positive responses from Alberta Forestry and Parks and the Village of Gull Lake.

The project began when groups in the area expressed interest and made a presentation to County council in 2023. Cade expects they will reach out to other municipalities in the future so the system might extend around the entire lake.

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