$440K for N.B. mountain biking trails signals 'more legitimacy' for sport

More than $400,000 of government spending means big upgrades are coming to some of the most cherished mountain biking trails in the Fredericton area.

About $137,000 will go into building about four kilometres of new trail in Minto, while $303,000 will go toward building about 10 kilometres of new trail at Woolastook Park.

Considering both trail networks were built and have largely been maintained by volunteer labour, the government funds are a significant help and show that officials are starting to view mountain biking as a more legitimate sport, said Scott Dubreuil, a member of Mountain Bike Atlantic and advocate for the Woolastook Park trails.

"I think it means a lot," said Dubreuil, who's also a general member of River Valley Cycling, which maintains the Woolastook Park trails.

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"It shows that, you know, rather than being viewed as a fringe sport, if you will, that we have legitimacy with the government … and it's very encouraging in the sense that, you know, if we execute on our strategic plan with this funding, then perhaps some other funding is available on an annual basis kind of thing."

Dubreuil said River Valley Cycling helped the Kingsclear Local Service District apply for the funding under Infrastructure Canada's Investing in Canada Plan, which has earmarked $180 billion to be spent over 12 years on projects centred around public transit, energy systems and community services across the country.

Dubreuil said a portion of the funds have already been spent on hiring engineering and construction firm McElhanney Ltd. to come up with a strategic master plan for the trail network.

"It was a wise investment, because through that strategic master plan we now