Grant funding secured
Kentville developing long-range active transportation plan
Annapolis Valley residents will soon have more incentive to get outside and get around using active transportation thanks to support in the form of a $37,500 grant.
The money was secured through the province’s sustainable transportation grant program, Connect2.
Keith Irving, MLA for Kings South, announced the grant Aug. 21 at Eaves Hollow, a sought-out destination for those looking to enjoy one trails.
“This is all about active transportation and getting folks out of their cars,” said Irving. “It’s not only good for the environment to get out of our cars, but good for our health and our wellbeing.”
Of the grant, $22,500 will go to the Town of Kentville and be put toward developing an active transportation plan, said Julia Stephenson, active living community co- ordinator with the Town of Kentville.
“This money will help us develop a new active transportation plan, so we can work with of Kentville’s many the consultant to develop the plan for how, over the next 10 to 15 years, we’re going to be working on active transportation in Kentville,” said Stephenson.
“So that will help us get some sense of what infrastructure priorities we have, what policy priorities we need, as well as how we can manage some education and communication around getting people aware of, and using, active transportation.”
Active transportation is any form of human-powered transportation, such as walking, cycling, longboarding, using a wheelchair, snowshoeing — and more.
The remaining $15,000 of the grant will be used by PBJ Design, a non-profit organization of Nova Scotia, to raise awareness of active transportation in the Annapolis Valley.
The Connect2 program, which is run by the Department of Mines and Energy, supports community-driven projects that improve connectivity within two kilometres or less between key community assets.
The Connect2 projects receiving funding in Nova Scotia this year are slated for completion by March 2019.