January 25, 2021
Province Invests $100,000 Toward River Trails Through Safe at Home Manitoba Grant
– – –Encourage Manitobans to Get Outside, Safely Enjoy Our Winter Season: Cox
The Manitoba government is providing up to $100,000 to The Forks to help create, maintain and expand The Winnipeg Foundation Centennial River Trail, providing Manitobans with the opportunity to walk, bike, skate and cross-country ski along Winnipeg’s rivers, Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox announced today.
“The Winnipeg Foundation Centennial River Trail allows Manitobans to get outside and safely enjoy our winter season, which is so important this year as we deal with the challenges and restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Cox. “Our government is focused on protecting Manitobans, and the Safe at Home Manitoba program has made it easier for families to engage in a number of activities that benefit their health and well-being, while being able to follow current public health guidelines.”
The trail this year has been expanded to allow users to enjoy it in multiple ways, also making it one of the largest trails ever created on Winnipeg’s rivers. New this year are cross-country ski trails, a widened skating path, bike course and security ambassadors that can educate the public on current public health guidelines. New sections will continue to be added throughout the winter and the trail will be groomed daily.
“This grant has made it possible for us to add more ways for Manitobans to play at The Forks and on the rivers in a year when we all need some light and fun,” says Paul Jordan, CEO, The Forks Renewal Corporation. “We are connecting in ways we never have before, with groomed cross-country ski trails on the Red and Assiniboine rivers, bike trails on The Forks site, widened pathways for skating and walking, and a connection to the Exchange District for bikers and skiers. We’re showing the world, yet again, how the people of our province embrace winter and our resilience in the face of adversity.”
The trail can be accessed from The Forks and access points will be added as conditions allow. Updated conditions, including what sections of the trail are open or closed, can be found at www.theforks.com/skate.
The Safe at Home Manitoba grant provided $3 million to a wide variety of Manitoba organizations and individuals who are able to produce free programming such as streaming of the performing arts, cooking-at-home classes, at-home fitness programs and home-based art programs for children.
For more information on other online programming, visit the Safe at Home Manitoba website at www.safeathomemb.ca.
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