Winnipeg, MB - St. Vital residents will soon be able to further enjoy the Seine River area with new access point improvements and a granular pathway thanks to a $107,000 investment through Phase Two of the Manitoba/Winnipeg Building Communities Initiative (BCI) II partnership. The announcement was made today by Nancy Allan, MLA for St. Vital and Winnipeg City Councillor Brian Mayes (St. Vital).
“It's great that we will have a park right in this neighborhood that families can enjoy for walking, picnics and playing,” said Nancy Allan, MLA for St. Vital.
"These funds create another chance for Winnipeggers to come and enjoy the Seine River,” said Councillor Brian Mayes, St. Vital Ward. “In the future, this park will be a destination point for the Bishop Grandin Greenway allowing citizens to walk or bike to a beautiful, family-friendly location by the Seine."
Improvements to the Seine River’s access points and pathways under this BCI II project will include a new park entry point at Marlene Street with a new planting bed and waste receptacle as well as four bench nodes, a granular pathway, and signage. Work on the project is expected to start in late September with an estimated completion date of late fall 2014.
The BCI II partnership is a multi-year, cost-shared capital initiative developed jointly by the Manitoba government and the City of Winnipeg. The goal of the funding is to support community revitalization through improvements to local infrastructure in targeted older neighbourhoods and contribute to the vitality, safety and health of communities throughout the city.
Phase One of BCI II provided a total of $10 million between 2010 and 2014. Of the 38 approved projects under the first phase, 35 have been completed, with the remaining three to be completed in the 2014 construction season.
Phase Two of BCI II will provide an additional $10 million between 2013 and 2015. An additional 46 projects have been approved under Phase Two, with 10 completed and the remaining to be completed in the 2014 and 2015 construction seasons.
Phase Three of BCI II will provide an additional $3.8 million. 60 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. 27 projects have been approved to date and will be completed in 2014 and 2015.
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.