A well-used pathway in Calgary’s Cougar Ridge community has become a road to nowhere after the province installed a fence blocking access to a popular natural area near the city’s western ring road. The informal route developed where city pathways meet provincial Transportation/Utility Corridor (TUC) land and has been used by residents for more than a decade to walk, cycle and connect with neighbouring communities. “It doesn’t make sense,” said Cougar Ridge resident Whit Winter. “It’s what we love about the community is the access, the greenways to connect with neighbors through the backyards.” Alberta Infrastructure closed the access point in early October, according to a Nov. 2 letter from the Cougar Ridge Residents Association (CRRA). The association says it contacted the province about the closure but Alberta Infrastructure has since reinforced the fencing. Someone has cut open the fence twice. It now bears patchwork repairs, and a camera has been mounted on a pole facing the fence. Winter says he’s not surprised by the frustration. “It’s a very active community, and it really just hamstrings the people who want to be active,” said Winter. “There’s definitely been some community rebellion as well, which is why we have the camera this time. So, but that again, it just kind of seems like a big invasion of privacy.” Province says it is reacting to residents’ concerns In a statement to CTV a spokesperson for Alberta Infrastructure wrote “The lands adjacent to Cougar Ridge are Transportation Utility Corridor lands owned and administered by Alberta Infrastructure and are not designated for public recreational use. “Alberta Infrastructure installed fencing in September following repeated concerns voiced by nearby residents regarding unauthorized access, damage to fencing and signage paired with concerns for public safety with it being close to a major roadway.” “Many of the homes which back on to the TUC have gates which continue allowing those homeowners to access the TUC, even though the province says entering the area through those gates is illegal, wrting; “TUC lands are not Crown lands or public lands within the meaning of the Public Lands Act, nor are they municipal green spaces or recreational lands designated for public use. “They are titled lands owned by the Province of Alberta, with Alberta Infrastructure responsible for their administration and safety of those on them. Access to and use of TUC lands are regulated and restricted and applicable trespass legislation applies.” Trespassing? In its letter, the residents association says there may be a way to restore access, writing: “Alberta Infrastructure’s position is that walking within the TUC without authorized access is considered trespassing and that the corridor must be secured.” But the association says there may be a way to restore access. “Through our discussions with Alberta Infrastructure and the City of Calgary, we have identified a possible way forward: establishing a formal, approved pathway that would restore this important community connection.” The proposed pathway would connect Old Banff Coach Road to the western edge of Cougar Ridge, with a possible future extension north toward WinSport. However, the association says the city would have to approve, fund and prioritize the project. Gaps in pathway network Ward 6 Coun. John Pantazopoulos says his office has heard from residents and is working with the community and provincial officials to find a solution. “Technically, it’s not a pathway system, but is there a compromise? Is there something we can do together as community?” he said. Pantazopoulos says the issue also highlights gaps in Calgary’s broader pathway network. “it speaks sort of broader to our whole sort of transportation network when we start thinking about regional pathway systems. “he said. The residents association says it has received dozens of complaints and is encouraging residents to contact the city and their councillor to press for construction of a formal pathway.
