A section of the Courtenay Riverway walkway between 19^th and 20^th Streets will be closed starting Thursday, September 24 for trail improvements. The trail will be closed until the end of November. Walkway users will need to temporarily detour using the sidewalk on Cliffe Avenue during this time.

The section of the Riverway sits on private property; however the City of Courtenay is in the process of obtaining the property through a land exchange. The trail improvements are being completed by the current landowner as a requirement for any future development of the adjacent land.

Improvements will include 60 metres of new asphalt, along with a number of significant habitat upgrades.

Crews will be restoring an existing man-made boat basin and slough along the Courtenay River. The bank will be stabilized with a variety of measures, including large rocks, bank stabilization bags, and native landscaping. A number of red alder trees along the riverbank will be replaced by longer-lasting native tree species.

To improve fish habitat, the existing slough along the west side of the trail will be re-contoured and expanded, with new native aquatic landscaping. A culvert between the boat basin and the slough will improve access for fish.

New fencing will be installed along environmentally sensitive areas to provide greater protection.

All work will be closely monitored by local biologist, arborist, and engineering consulting firms. The habitat will be monitored for five years to ensure the improvements are functioning as intended. All improvements have been reviewed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, and the City of Courtenay.

For more information, please contact the City of Courtenay Parks Department at 250-338-1525 or email publicworks@courtenay.ca