Winnipeg, MB – At an event this morning, Councillor Jenny Gerbasi and Crescent Park Rescue officially opened the new Crescent Drive Park canoe and kayak launch site, located at 781 Crescent Drive.
“By increasing river access this project encourages active transportation and recreational use of our rivers,” said Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton. “Supporting local infrastructure that builds active and healthy communities makes our province a better place to live, work and play.”
“The Crescent Drive Park canoe and kayak launch is a great addition to the active transportation network in the Crescent Drive area,” said Councillor Gerbasi, City Councillor for Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry. “I’m very grateful to the Crescent Park Rescue for working together with the City and the Province to make this launch site a reality.”
“The residents of East Fort Garry are pleased to see the addition of a canoe / kayak dock on the Red River in Crescent Drive Park,” said Ronald Mazur, Chair, Crescent Park Rescue. “The canoe / kayak dock will add to the outdoor recreation opportunities available at Crescent Drive Park and at the adjacent Crescent Drive Golf Course. The green spaces and forested areas are jewels along the Red River that are visited by residents from across south Winnipeg. We commend the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba for making this investment that will encourage a healthy lifestyle."
The new canoe and kayak launch will enhance river access in Crescent Drive Park, complementing the adjacent active transportation route. Total investment in for this project was $187,000 and includes the following improvements:
- Removable aluminum alloy gangway and floating canoe/kayak dock
- Concrete block and paving stone walkway and platform
- New park bench
In addition to launch improvements, the Red River shoreline was re-graded and reinforced with 10 cable-concrete erosion protection mats.
Improvements to the canoe launch and shoreline were partially funded by the City’s Riverbank Greenways Capital Program in the amount of $129,000 and the Building Communities Initiatives (BCI) II Phase III in the amount of $58,000.
For more information on City of Winnipeg parks and boat launch access, please see City of Winnipeg – Parks and Open Space.
Background
The BCI partnership is a multi-year cost-shared capital initiative developed jointly by the Manitoba government and the City of Winnipeg.
Phase One of BCI II provided a total of $10 million between 2010 and 2014. All 38 of the projects approved under the first phase have been completed.
Phase Two of BCI II provided an additional $10 million between 2013 and 2016. An additional 53 projects were approved under Phase Two, with 47 completed and the remaining 6 to be completed in 2017.
Phase Three of BCI II provided an additional $3.8 million. Sixty per cent of the funding for this phase is provided by the City of Winnipeg and 40 per cent is contributed by the Province of Manitoba. Thirty three projects have been approved to date, with 31 completed and the remaining 2 to be completed in 2017.
BCI II projects include improving athletic fields, playgrounds, skate parks, spray and splash pads, basketball and tennis courts, lighting, seating, pathways in parks and upgrades of community centres.