In 2009 the City received a Recreation Infrastructure grant from the federal government, which they matched with a provincial Local Motion grant and their own ‘slag funds’. This resulted in the paving and lighting of the Black Train Bridge trail, which has noticeably changed how people of all ages and abilities move within the city. One place you can start this beautiful trail is at the Columbia & Western Station Pub where there is lots of parking. The old rail grade is behind the station pub and is still CPR”s property and hasn’t been improved. You can wander down it past the restored CPR shed which acts as a TCT information kiosk to McCallum Road. Take a bit of jaunt to the east to get on the unused paved road of Columbia and a good look at the wildlife area below. You will probably see lots of deer. When you get to Highway 3 you will have to go back west a block to Donaldson to cross the highway at the street light. Cross the highway and head east back down to the well-signed trailhead and the new paved trail. You will pass below a subdivision and above another wildlife area, which is an abandoned oxbow of the Kettle River. It is very popular with deer and other wildlife. Cross Boundary Road and you will come to the new kiosk in a little square that holds the restored CPR tool shed. This is another great starting point for the trail. You can park along the Kettle River Drive or in the designated area by the kiosk if you want to start or end your walk at this point. Cross on the clearly marked road to enjoy the decked Black Train Bridge. The 39th Squadron of the Canadian Military Engineers decked this trestle in 2008 and renamed it the Darrel Priede Trestle in honor of a young soldier killed in Afghanistan. Enjoy the new look out and memorial bench perched over the river. The sign and the unique railings of the bridge were locally designed. Continue south along the Kettle River to the new Community Gardens in the South Ruckle neighborhood. There is a lower beach trail that loops back towards to the paved trail. Be prepared to walk along the water’s edge to find some small beaches. In the summer time you can see dozens of tubers floating down the river. You can turn around at the new Community Gardens or explore the quiet streets of the South Ruckle neighborhood.