Kelly Friesen of the Southside Economic Development Association (SEDA) would like to see as many people as possible cast a vote for the development of a Takysie Lake Adventure Site and Nature Trail at the current BC Forest Rec. site at Takysie Lake.  Friesen has posted the project to the Aviva Community Fund website in an attempt to raise up to $50,000.

鈥淲e already have up to $60,000 committed in matching funds from the Nechako Kitimat Development Fund (NKDF), but we鈥檒l need to raise the matching funds first,鈥� said Friesen.  鈥淭he more support we can get the better.  This is going to cost over $200,000 by the time we鈥檙e done,鈥� she said.

The current site is run down and in need of a face lift. 鈥淲e鈥檒l have a climbing wall, a bouldering wall, a dock, a boat launch, a BBQ pit and a trail,鈥� said Friesen.  鈥淲e want to get more and more people coming over to the Southside.

SEDA has been working to develop the recreation site for a number of years.  In 2003 they had funding to develop trails in the area, but they ran into issues with private property interests that prevented the completion of the enhancement.  鈥淲e鈥檒l build a trail that stays on the rec site,鈥� Friesen said, 鈥渂ut the Lakes District Trail Society will build a trail that links with ours.鈥�

The Aviva Community Fund is a one million dollar fund that will be shared by winning entries that make it through semi-finals and finals.  Entries move on from one stage to the next through public voting.

鈥淲e got started too late to get enough votes in the first round voting,鈥� said Friesen.  Every entrant has three chances to move from the preliminary  round to the semi-finals.  Her proposal didn鈥檛 get through in the first round, but she鈥檚 optimistic about getting through in this the second round of voting.

鈥淲e鈥檒l need at least 2000 votes to get through to the semi-finals,鈥� said Friesen.  Anyone can vote.  Just head over to the Aviva website and register to vote.

SEDA鈥檚 entry in the 2012 Aviva Community fund can be found at: http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf15175.  Voting has already begun.