We now have well over 1100 supporters that have signed the petition.  Thankyou!

I met with select members of the Rotary Club via zoom on Monday, May 17.  I believe that they are well intentioned with their plans for Assiniboine Forest, but perhaps underestimating opposition to building physical infrastructure. 

The Charleswood Rotary Club (CRC) maintain that the addition of a parking lot at the corner of Taylor and Shaftsbury will relieve pressure on the West side of the Forest by having people enter via the East side. They would also consider a hard surface other than asphalt. I remain opposed to the construction of any new parking as it will have some environmental impact, no matter how minimal. Once it is built, it cannot be unbuilt. Also, the parking lot near Pacific Junction School is underutilized, and could take pressure off of the Grant and Chalfont parking lot.

The CRC planning document clearly refers to an interpretive centre in a physical building that could accommodate washrooms as well. The CRC says this is not a priority for them, and would focus instead on outdoor learning and the use of technology such as an application for cell phones. This is a positive clarification, although they are not committing to not building an interpretive centre at some point in the future.

The CRC clarified the need for an additional return trail from the pond;

“The planning study supported the need to be inclusive, continuing to allow visitors in wheelchairs broader access to the forest experience. Conceptually, the Rotary Forest Committee was thinking of hard packed crushed stone for the accessible return path rather than asphalt. Providing an accessible `hard packed crushed stone` return loop would enhance their experience, and could also assist other visitors with strollers. The Rotary Forest Committee believes that this is an important addition that will have minimal environmental impact.”

 Also, in order to balance visitors in the southern and eastern sections of the Forest, they are planning on upgrading some existing mud and grass trails to wood chip or hard packed stone. This would open up trails for those entering at Taylor and Shaftsbury or via the eastern entrance to the Harte Trail as well as accommodate people with mobility issues. 

I think this is an acceptable concept, as long as it is not asphalt and it uses an existing trail vs. cutting a new trail through the forest.

Finally, the CRC has installed seasonable portable washrooms. They will be required for the “Green Team” and use could be expanded to the public. They will be located by the storage containers near the entrance to the forest. This is a better alternative to a physical structure containing washrooms.

CRC are engaging a landscape architect to prepare a draft plan for forest initiatives that should be ready by this summer. Prior to the completion of the plan, they’ll have public consultations to seek feedback and suggestions. In addition they have also advised me that the City of Winnipeg Naturalist attends all meetings and approves any further development with respect to environmental impact. I will continue to monitor CRC’s plans and update you in the future.