By Debra Workman
Students will soon be able to bike, walk, jog and in-line skate on a new, paved multi-use path called the College Connector Trail. It will link the BYU Campus to the UVSC Campus.
'Mountainland orchestrated it in coordination with the city' said Sean Seger of Mountainland Association of Government. 'It''s a 12 foot wide asphalt trail that can only be used by nonmotorized vehicles.'
Mountainland Trail Program Coordinator Jim Price described the trail route. He said the trail begins at State Street in Orem. From there it goes to University Avenue in Provo where it continues in the form of sidewalks and bike lanes. The trail continues all the way to 900 East and over to Temple View Drive.
It then goes up Temple View Drive to Rock Canyon. The trail connects Rock Canyon and Rock Canyon Park with UVSC and the Bonneville Trailhead. 'The trail will also cross the Provo River and connect with the Provo River Trail,' he said. The trail is complete except for the construction of two bridges. The target date for their completion is March 26.
'The bidding was much lower than was expected bringing the cost down to $1.2 million instead of the projected cost of $1.6 million.' Price said. 'Provo and Orem sponsored the Connector Trail and both will have upkeep responsibilities,' he said.
Orem Parks Manager Steve Davis said, 'The University Connector Trail was funded by way of federal funds.'
He also mentioned that Orem not only had several parks with trails but they would soon have a skate park designed by professional engineers. It would be approximately 24,000 square feet and should be finished by mid to late summer.
'Construction of the skate park will begin in May at the south end of a storm water detention basin located at 1200 West 400 North in Orem,' said Orem Recreation Director Jerry Ortiz. 'Its estimated cost is $300,000.'
Jerry Ortiz said, 'In order to get feedback from the community many local skateboard enthusiasts were asked what they would like included in the design of the skate park. These ideas were then presented to the design engineering firm which Orem City hired to design and build the skate park.'
Residents have really been catered too and should be getting exactly what they''ve ordered.
So far it is undecided whether in-line skaters and skateboarders will be required to wear protective gear. Orem City does plan to encourage skaters to take all possible safety precautions.