A n n ua l Report 2022 Y ear in Review
Member Trail Group Updates
Crocus Trail Association
The 2022 year focused on obtaining a study of the Bear Creek section of Crocus Trail in the Inglis area . A study of the area was completed and identified recommendations for this section as well as other sections of the trail adjacent to the Asessippi ski area . The board discussed the recommendations and decided to look at the route past Lennard and the Orthodox churches as the preferred option . Crocus Trail will need to confirm this route with Manitoba Highways and the Municipality of Riding Mountain West . If approvals are received , the trail will need to be signed . Other recommendations listed in the study will be deferred to a later date .
Trail signs were updated and trail conditions audited along the easily accessed ( drivable ) parts of the trail . There are still pockets where old signage exists but could not be changed due to sign shortage , difficulty removing the aged signs or posts requiring replacement . Some newer signs still need the updated decal or replacement as they have been damaged . GPS
Treaty 1 coordinates have been captured for many locations . A walking audit was done of Asessippi North as it enters the park off 166W north of the valley through to where the trail meets Highway 83 . We have a report of a flooded area on a multi-use portion of trail in the Duck Mountain forest where the trail enters Manitoba . Due to the high moisture levels in the spring and the quick melt , we need to determine if it was a temporary issue or if lasting damage occurred . The excess moisture also increased the growth rate of grass ; seeking mowing options on the more remote areas was an issue .
Maintenance was mainly in mowing and removal of fallen trees as well as signage updates . Work plan for 2023 is in progress .
Treaty 2
Overlooking Lake of the Prairies
Valley Life Recreation ( VLR )
VLR formally began construction on the Squirrel Hills Trail Park . In addition to this , incredible fundraising milestones were met along with the opening of our first formal trails for winter use .
On August 23 , we welcomed D . I . G . Trail Design , the professional trail building company from Rossland , BC that won a spring tender process . What followed was 10 weeks of construction in the Squirrel Hills Recreation Area , digging , cutting and shaping what is to become Manitoba ’ s next professionally designed and built trail park . Approximately 70 % of the trail building was completed . In 2023 the remaining work will be completed .
Trail park fundraising goals reached new heights as we went from having raised $ 250,000 ( at the end of 2021 ) to ending 2022 with $ 555,000 raised . This represents approximately 75 % of the most recently revised trail park budget . Some of the funders VLR would like to acknowledge include Saputo ($ 25k ), Richardson International Limited ($ 50k ), Building Sustainable Communities fund ($ 75k ), Canada Healthy Communities Initiative ($ 25k ), Hydro Flask Parks For All ($ 20k ), Minnedosa Rotary Club ($ 5k ), Stewart Lewis ($ 5k ) and Trails Manitoba ($ 75k ).
From a trail-use perspective , one of the most exciting moments was the start of winter use for the newly constructed trails . VLR has undertaken various educational campaigns related to “ groomed winter trail use etiquette ” (# thinkbeforeyousink ) along with dedicated grooming of the trail and reporting on those updates to the public . The winter trail use has been extraordinary with many first-time users reporting how thrilled they are to have discovered a new love of trails .
Two members of the VLR Board will be attending the International Trails Summit in Reno , Nevada in April and look forward to bringing back many new ideas and perspectives . A focus on fundraising and construction of the trailhead , along with completion of the newly built trails , will ensure Minnedosa ’ s Squirrel Hills Trail Park continues to become the project we all envision it to be .
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