An aluminum boardwalk opened this week at the south end of Cottle Lake in Linley Valley. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

trail improvement

New boardwalk solves ‘ankle-breaker’ section of Linley Valley trail

Mar 27, 2024 | 5:34 AM

NANAIMO — More than 200 meters of aluminum boardwalk now tops a challenging section of trail on the south side of Cottle Lake in the popular Linley Valley recreation area.

Charlotte Davis, manager of parks operations for the City of Nanaimo, said their contractor recently completed the boardwalk which she said vastly improves accessibility to a portion of Linley Valley Cottle Lake Park.

“There’s less clambering over roots and it’s also better for the environment. We did have erosion around the shore of the lake, we’ve kind of removed that issue now, it’s better all around,” Davis said.

The south end of Cottle Lake includes steep, root and rock-filled sections. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The project features several sections of boardwalk outfitted with a railing and and slip-resistant deck.

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Davis said opting for a more durable aluminum feature made more sense in the sloped, hard to access location.

“That area is a really technical area to be working in. We certainly don’t want to be going back several times to repair, for example like we would be doing if it was a wooden feature.”

Wood chips and gravel will be added in the weeks ahead to fill in gaps between the boardwalk to lessen tripping hazards and improve drainage, Davis said.

A railing facing the lake and slip-resistant boardwalk deck will help guide trail users more safely. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

She noted the project will use up all of its $236,000 allotted budget.

Davis said other trail and signage improvements are planned for the near future at Linley Valley Cottle Lake Park.

Local area resident Ron Clark, who walks in the park every morning, appreciates the investment.

“It was always known as an ankle-breaker because of rocks and roots, so it’s certainly a lot safer now with the level walk,” Clark told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Clark said he knows quite a few people who long avoided the south side of Cottle Lake due to the difficult terrain.

Longtime local area resident Kim Cameron also enjoyed the new boardwalk feature during morning stroll with her dog.

“It will definitely increase the traffic on this side of the lake compared with the other side and probably get more people doing a loop as opposed to just walking in and walking out,” Cameron said.

The City’s Charlotte Davis said crews began the project at Linley Valley Cottle Lake Park last October, which caused temporary closures. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes