The Xpilaxha Trail (formerly the Grand Trunk Trail) in Terrace is getting a foliage upgrade supported by a BC Hydro Community Regreening grant. (Photo courtesy of City of Terrace)
Grants add plants, trees, and flowers to paths, gardens, and wetlands
Sometime this summer, a pedestrian, cyclist or skateboarder will stop on a shared path along Highway 16 near Terrace, take out their smartphone, and bend over to take a closeup image of an intriguing plant or flower.
At least that’s the hope of Chera Barrowman.
"I like introducing some fun or unusual plants if I can," says Barrowman, park supervisor for the City of Terrace. "I think it's nice for people to come by and say 'I've never seen that before."
The City of Terrace is amping up the nature component along the popular Xpilaxha – Charles and Emma Nelson Trail (formerly the Grand Truck Trail) that stretches a distance of just over four kilometres, from the City’s downtown to Kitsumkalum First Nation. Helping make that happen is funding from our Community ReGreening program. A few other 2024 regreening grant recipients include the City of Pitt Meadows (Rose Grabenhorst Garden), the City of Parksville (Parksville Wetlands), and the City of Armstrong (City Hall Make Water Work Demonstration Garden).
'Even here, drought is an issue'
The challenge facing the City of Terrace was to provide a calming buffer along a path that runs parallel to train tracks and a highway, past businesses, hotels, a gravel pit, and a few residences. Special attention was paid to adding both touches of colour and drought tolerant plants.
"Yes, Terrace is known for getting a lot of rain in fall and winter," says Barrowman. "But even here, drought is an issue."
With no irrigation along much of the Xpilaxha Trail, water trucks will be used to help the new plants and flowers get a healthy head start. New to the trail will be the likes of spruce, Japanese maple, tiger eyes sumac, dwarf balsam fir and witchhazel that will help create height and movement year-round. There will also be splashes of seasonal colour.
"One of the trees that I am most excited about is the Northern Herald redbud," gushes Barrowman. "It is meant to be a low maintenance cold hardy tree with masses of bright pink blooms in spring. I think the butterflies and birds will love this one, too."
A garden by the main Xpilaxha trail sign, erected just last year, will sport an assortment of plants designed to complement the white, red and black theme of the sign.
The trail was renamed to Xpilaxha in Spring 2024 in honour of Charles and Emma Nelson, a Tsimshian First Nation couple who owned a general store in Kitsumkalum and assisted many early European settlers.
“The trail is such a great asset to commuters and a great way to get out for some exercise,” adds Barrowman. “As we continue to develop the landscaping along the trail, my hope is that it becomes an even more attractive destination for community members and visitors.”
About our Community ReGreening program
Our Community ReGreening program supports the planting of trees and other vegetation that help enhance ecological networks across the province. The program also helps to ensure the right trees are planted near our power lines.
We provide financial support up to $10,000 per applicant to purchase trees and other vegetation for small-scale community planting projects.