Winnipeg, MB - Today, officials from the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg celebrated the official opening of the newly-constructed Annabella river access walkway.
“This project will provide better access to the Red River for Point Douglas residents year-round, improving recreation opportunities in the community,” said Indigenous and Municipal Affairs Minister Eileen Clark. “A local artist and resident helped design the site and the stone finishes were mined in Manitoba, making this project a real partnership between the community and local governments.”
“The Annabella river access project was imagined by local artists Louis Bako and Jordan Van Sewell, and will serve our community well by providing easy access to recreation on the Red River,” said Mike Pagtakhan, City Councillor for Point Douglas. “This project is truly a community effort, and I’m proud that the partnership between the City and Province could make the walkway a reality.”
The Annabella river access project, accessible off of Curtis Street, was imagined by local artists Louis Bako and Jordan Van Sewell who approached the Province and the City with the idea and design. The project provides river access with a new tyndall stone staircase, and also features a newly refurbished pathway leading up to the river.
The Annabella river access project is a Building Communities Initiatives (BCI) II initiative that received $60,700 in support from the Manitoba government and the City of Winnipeg.
The BCI partnership is a multi-year cost-shared capital initiative developed jointly by the Manitoba government and the City of Winnipeg. BCI II will provide $23.8 million to support community revitalization through improvements to 121 local infrastructure initiatives in targeted older neighbourhoods and contribute to the vitality, safety and health of communities throughout the city.
Phase One of BCI II provided $10 million between 2010 and 2014. All 38 of these approved projects under the first phase have been completed.
Phase Two of BCI II will provide an additional $10 million between 2013 and 2016. An additional 51 projects have been approved under Phase Two, with 27 having been completed so far.
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.
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.