Portions of the happily named Spirit Trail were always going to be a problem.
The concept is a good one: a multi-purpose trail linking Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove, allowing walkers, cyclists and the disabled in wheelchairs equal access to uninterrupted kilometres of exercise while enjoying ocean vistas.
There are existing portions of the route in place and land to accommodate other sections. But there are also enclaves of private homes that have no wish to see the entire Metro population parading past their garden fences.
Many will remember the rancour that was stirred up in the Dollarton and Deep Cove area by a proposed waterfront trail. Ultimately, there was no appetite on council of the day to override local resident opposition.
The province kicked the project off with $3.7 million just over one year ago: West Van got $2 million, the city $980,000 and the District of North Vancouver $708,000. The money comes from the provincial LocalMotion program, but there is no doubt it was intended as an Olympic legacy project.
The trouble is that the money is not enough to deliver more than a few kilometres of new trail. Much of the money will disappear in municipal planning costs.
And Wednesday night’s angry meeting in West Vancouver suggests that process could drag on for years to come — especially with an election in the offing and incumbents anxiously striving for harmony on all fronts.
The spirit of perseverance will be needed to complete this project.
