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The municipality of Digby is launching a process to redesign the steep, densely wooded trail leading to the Balancing Rock in hopes of making it more accessible.
Local MP Chris d’Entremont announced just over $37,000 in funding last week from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to help pay for the first phase of the overhaul. The province and municipality are chipping in another $25,000.
The money will be used to “engage engineering experts to redesign the Balancing Rock Trail and viewing platform in Tiverton,” according to a release from ACOA.
“The trail is 30 years old already and it’s still in good shape for its age, but we’re trying to be preventative and get ahead of anything that needs to be replaced immediately,” said Christopher Kingston, director of municipal services and development officer for the municipality.
The municipality is seeking a consultant to assess and determine what portions of the trail need renovation or replacement, Kingston said. More funding will be needed to cover construction costs.
The trail in Tiverton, Digby County, is a 2.5-kilometre round trip with a platform at the end to view a tall column of stone balanced on its end on a cliff overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Getting there requires an arduous hike down a series of narrow wooden staircases.
“It would be ideal that we would make as much of the trail accessible as possible to everyone,” said Kingston.
Kingston said it will be at least 2027 before any changes are made.
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