Active transportation a North Kildonan reality

One of the active transportation corridors in North Kildonan is the Northeast Pioneers Greenway, which is 5.5 kilometres long and runs in between Raleigh Street and Gateway Road — from Knowles Avenue to Talbot Avenue —  along the old CPR rail line that was first installed in 1878.

This corridor is covered with asphalt and is approximately 1.5 metres wide, giving ample room for people to pass each other regardless of what mode of transportation they’re using.

There are interpretive signs along the trail which identify various types of grasses, plants, birds and animals that are a part of the habitat. If you’re out for a walk and you need a beverage or perhaps a washroom break, there are stores just off the trail about at the half way mark. There is a Red River Co-op store, a Tim Hortons and a Superstore.

If the weather changes and starts raining, protective shelters are situated about every kilometre or so.

On my travels on the corridor I have seen people walking, jogging, in-line skating, strolling with a baby carriage, walking the dog, coming home from grocery shopping, riding bicycles, even people in wheelchairs. This trail is very well-used one and well-travelled from morning to evening.

Starting at the north end at Knowles (it was extended from McIvor Avenue a couple of years ago) and stopping at the roundabout at Sun Valley Drive, you have the option of taking the Bunn’s Creek trail to the west, which is a twisting, turning three-kilometre trail through the residential area alongside Bunn’s Creek all the way to Henderson Highway and further to the river.

If you decide to stay on course and head further south you will come upon Sugar Point, just before Chief Peguis Trail.

Pioneer’s Pass bridge will give you a great view of parts of North Kildonan and you can see buildings to the west on Henderson Highway. Around the bridge there are hundreds of maple trees and a rest area surrounded by beautiful vegetation.

Coming down off the bridge takes you past Prairie trail which runs to Springfield Road and past all the convenient places of business mentioned earlier. Other than a couple of shelters, it’s smooth sailing for the rest of the trail up to Talbot Avenue.

There are certainly no shortage of places to enjoy a walk around North Kildonan. We have a trail in Kilcona Park that goes around the lake by the dog park in the "leashed" area; you can walk around the Sun Valley retention pond on the north side of Chief Peguis Trail; and there are trails on both sides of Chief Peguis Trail from Henderson Highway to Lagimodiere Boulevard.

Rick Sparling is a community correspondent for North Kildonan. Email him at ricksparling@shaw.ca