Damage to popular Halifax-area trail prompts RCMP investigation

Damage to a popular multi-use trail in the Halifax areathat was the recent target of vandalismhas left a non-profit group "devastated" and on the hook for potentially thousands of dollars in repairs.

RCMP are investigating the damage to the B.L.T. trail, which is believed to have occurred sometime between the night of Nov. 2 and the following morning.

Ten metalgates meant to prevent large vehicles from accessing the trail were torn down, bent or destroyed, according to the B.L.T. Rails to Trails association, which maintains the path.

"We're just devastated, heartbroken and disappointed that this actually happened," Deepak Prasad, the association's chair, toldCBC Radio's Information Morning.

The 13-kilometre trail starts in Beechville and runs along multiple communities including Timberlea and Hubley. It attracts runners, cyclists, dog walkers, snowmobilers and all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts.

Damage along 7 kmof trail

Prasad saidit is suspected that some kind of vehicle entered the trailaround Hubley and drove seven kilometres to Timberlea. Aside from keeping unauthorizedvehicles off the path,the gates that were damaged are meant to slow down trail users, such as people on ATVs.

"The big side effect is that the safety of the trail users have been compromised," said Prasad.

The B.L.T. trailsustained an estimated $50,000 in damagelast summer after flash flooding washed out and blocked paths. Those repairs were covered by the province.

This time around, Prasad said the association will befundraisingto pay for therepairs. Those repairscould include removing, repairing or replacing the gates, which cost $2,500 apiece when they were installed years ago.

"If we have to remove gates, that's going to cost because we have to bring in some heavy machinery. Even if you have to repair the gates, there'll be some welding costs associated to that," said Prasad.

"And then there's definitely going to be a replacement of gates, and those are going to be an unknown cost at this time."

Despite the damage, Prasad said the trail remains open to the public. The association and the RCMP are asking anyone who might know something about the vandalismto contact police. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Prasad saidhe is hopeful the person or people responsible for the vandalism willcome forward.

"We're just hoping that the person whodid cause the damage, does the right thing in this and goes to the police and we can work this out," Prasad said.