The Trail, an ambitious project aimed at connecting Cochrane to the 28,000-kilometre Trans Canada Trail network, is gaining momentum. The initiative supports a national vision of linking communities from coast to coast to coast.
While the second phase focuses on a trail between Cochrane and Canmore, the first stage aims to connect Cochrane to Calgary via Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. A key feature of this plan is a proposed pedestrian bridge over the Bow River, linking Glenbow Ranch to Southbow Landing in Cochrane.
This new access point could significantly increase visitation to the park, and the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation is preparing for the impact.
“We believe that this bridge will be a major entrance for both Cochrane and Glenbow Ranch,” said Georg Paffrath, board chair of the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation. “With the Calgary and Cochrane connection, it is possible that our park can see a million annual visitors.”
Paffrath, alongside foundation CEO Jeromy Farkas, appeared before council at the May 20 Committee of the Whole meeting to request a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on developing Southbow Landing Park. The goal is to secure a future visitor centre at the site, which they believe would serve as a vital educational and cultural hub.
“Alberta Parks has designated this park as a mid-country instead of a fore-country or back-country, which means we want to keep the park as natural as possible,” Paffrath said. “Therefore, this opportunity to put a visitor centre on the Cochrane side appeals to us greatly.”
According to the foundation, the proposed visitor centre would enhance environmental education, highlight cultural history, and boost tourism in the region. Their proposal leverages 15 years of visitor centre management experience, connections across government, a partnership with the Trans Canada Trail, and the foundation’s status as a registered charity, which opens access to additional funding streams.
Coun. Tara McFadden voiced strong support for the initiative, calling it “both thrilling and a little bit frightening.”
“It will be transformative,” she said. “And it’s up to us as the Town of Cochrane and our partners to make sure that any of those changes are as positive as they can be.”
While the foundation hopes the bridge could be completed within five years, there are no confirmed timelines yet. However, Farkas emphasized the importance of moving quickly so the visitor centre is in place by the time the bridge opens.
“We have to move fast to have everything in place so that we’re ready when the bridge and park are opened at the same time,” he said.
Coun. Marni Fedeyko urged a more measured approach. Concerned about rushing the process, she advised administration to tell developers to “slow it down.”
“Let’s all come together and have a good plan,” she said. “Let’s have a plan that we all love going into the future—not one that’s rushed and pushed through.”
Town administration is now working with the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation to draft the MOU, which will be brought back to council at a future meeting.
