SIOUX NARROWS —The Township of Sioux Narrows–Nestor Falls has received a $273,000 grant to improve trail maintenance and expand seasonal programming.
“What it means for our trail users is that they can expect to see maintained trails 12 months a year,” said Heather Gropp, Community Development Officer with the township.
“We got roughly $300,000 over three years to grow and expand our programming on our trails network,” Gropp added. “The township has invested significantly over the last three to four years into our trails, and so this grant will allow us to take it to the next level and expand on existing programming and conditions of the trails”.
The municipality stretches out over a range of natural landscapes, said Gropp. “Our municipality is quite large; we span almost 100 kilometres north to south,” she explained. “Each of our trails is unique and different. We have 5 trails existing, and we are working on completing a 6th."
The largest, located in Nestor Falls, is the Red Pine Trail Network. “It has been fully developed into a 10-kilometre mountain biking trail as well,” said Gropp. “So there’s hiking and biking on that trail — and it’s gorgeous. It’s through a really beautiful red pine forest. You go past the quarry, there’s some great jump lines, it’s pretty awesome."
Gropp said the new funding, a Grow grant from the arm's-length provincial Trillium Foundation, will allow the township to maintain the trail network year-round. “Maintained for activities in the winter such as fat biking and cross-country skiing,” she said.
While some grooming has taken place in the past, this funding formalizes and expands those efforts. “Now this will be more organized. It will be on more trails.”
The township is purchasing compact grooming machines, called Snowdogs, built for snow-covered trails. “A type of groomer to support fat biking and cross-country skiing."
“It’s also supporting our volunteer trail committee, providing them with workshops and opportunities to learn to help maintain the trails,” Gropp said. “As well as a position within the municipality for a full-time trail maintainer, someone who can make sure that everything is groomed, and be constantly on top of all of the six trails that we’re gonna have."
The township also plans to grow its roster of trail-related community events. “We have some community events happening on the trails,” Gropp said. “But our community can expect to see more of these and larger events, bringing in experts, bringing in really different experiences than we’ve typically offered”. Current activities include community hikes, forest bathing, and storybook walks.
Gropp called the grant a major win for the municipality. “We’re very, very grateful for this funding,” she said. “It’s really gonna be transformational for the trail network.”
