As construction keeps moving full speed ahead on the Stanley Community Pathway, the committee behind the regional project continues to focus on rounding up funds to pay for it all.
From left: John Loewen from the Stanley Trail Association accepted donations from Paul Janzen, Bob Derksen, and Jody Hildebrand of the Winkler Auto Dealers group last week for the in-progress Stanley Community Pathway
Last week they got a welcome boost from the Winkler Auto Dealers, who together pledged $10,000 to help make the paved bike/pedestrian path between Morden and Winkler a reality.
Representatives from Hometown Ford, Janzen Chevrolet Buick GMC Winkler, and Southland Honda presented the first installment of the donation to John Loewen of the Stanley Trail Association on Wednesday.
“I think it’s good for the communities to work together, and I think the Boundary Trails hospital was a first step in that, and I think this is another great step in that direction,” noted Bob Derksen, Hometown Ford. “We can do good things if we work together.”
The 10 kilometre path runs alongside the south side of Hwy. 14/3 corridor through the RM of Stanley, separated from the road by the ditch. When completed, it will be accessible in Winkler from the Pine Ridge development, while the Morden entry point is on the research station grounds. A rest stop will also be built at the midpoint on the Boundary Trails Health Centre grounds.
“It’s a bit of a tourism thing” as well, noted Paul Janzen from Janzen Chevrolet. “People can now [bike] to Morden to the lake, and they have that great trail area there, right by the lake, by the golf course. So does it bring outside people to this area? I think it will.”
“This will get people out moving,” said Jody Hildebrand, Southland Honda. “Get individuals out and families out, whether it’s on bike, whether it’s walking.
“It’s a great thing,” he added of the pathway project as a whole, which has been decades in the making. “It needs to be supported.”
The community has certainly stepped up to do just that. Loewen shares that they’ve raised about $3.7 million so far.
“It’s so nice to have the Winkler Auto Dealers involved,” he said. “And we got a big donation from Kroeker Farms just the other day. And other businesses are absolutely showing their support, which is so appreciated.”
In addition to individual and corporate donations, they’ve received $250,000 in funding from each of the three municipalities, $75,000 from the provincial government, $2.1 million from the federal government.
The cost of the project has risen due to some unforeseen costs that popped up as construction got underway earlier this summer. They were originally aiming for about $4.2 million, but that number has risen to closer to $4.5 million.
“The target has gone up because of some unexpected construction costs,” Loewen said. “It’s nobody’s fault. It’s just that as the project evolved we realized there were some more impediments.”
Otherwise, though, construction is moving along nicely. Sections of the path are already paved and it’s expected the entire route will be open to the public by the end of November.
Loewen stressed that the paved sections are not yet open for use.
“I would like to take the opportunity to remind people that it’s an active construction site. So, as tempting as that trail is, please stay off of it for now.”
Donations to the project can be made online at stanleytrailmanitoba.ca or by dropping off cheques payable to the Stanley Trail Association at the Morden, Stanley, or Winkler municipal offices.
Loewen noted the Morden Area Foundation and the Winkler Community Foundation are currently matching donations made to the project. Each agency has pledged $25,000 in matched funds.
