As COVID-19 has pushed people to explore the outdoors in numbers never seen before, a new outdoor recreation space is now planned for the Little Saskatchewan River valley that runs through the community of Minnedosa and the R.M of Minto-Odanah. Located on Highway #10 and #16 in the valley adjacent to the Town of Minnedosa, Valley Life Recreation is planning a dramatic expansion of the cross-country ski and hiking area known as the Squirrel Hills Recreation Area.
The plans for Squirrel Hills Trail Park involve a new machine-built trail system designed by award-winning trail designer Alex Man. The multi-use trail system will accommodate mountain biking, trail running, hiking, snowshoeing, family adventures, fat biking and more. The new trails will double the total trail distance of the area to approximately 16 kms.
Also designed by Alex Man, a brand new park-styled trailhead will welcome trail users with a nature play area, pavilion with views of the valley, eating areas, and a beginner mountain biking skills area. Plans are in place for a 2022 park build, provided all funding goals are met.
The trail park is budgeted at approximately $650,000 and financial commitments have already been put forward from municipal levels and the local Co-op.
Both the Town of Minnedosa and the R.M. of Minto-Odanah have committed $15,000 each to the project. The Heritage Co-op Community Fund contributed $6,000 to help expedite final planning which included the above conceptual drawings.
Valley Life Recreation has also fundraised over $10,000 since the beginning of 2021 through its calendar fundraiser and a recently launched 50/50 cash lottery.
With this project announcement today, a major capital fundraising campaign for the Squirrel Hills Trail Park formally begins.
Valley Life Recreation has prepared a comprehensive Sponsorship Package available for download and donations can be made online at their newly launched website, www.ValleyLifeRec.ca. A very limited selection of naming rights have also been made available for contribution amounts between $22,500 and $100,000.
With this new trails infrastructure project, Minnedosa will be joining the likes of trails at the Brandon Hills and Riding Mountain National Park, along with the success of Dauphin’s Northgate Trail System, Assessippi’s downhill trails and the recently opened Hylife Back Forty bike park in Neepawa. The Squirrel Hills Trail park will help to further cement Westman as a marketable provincial and national trails destination.
Valley Life Recreation looks forward to engaging our entire community in helping this new piece of community infrastructure come to life. The Squirrel Hills Trail Park will create yet another reason for Minnedosa and R.M. residents to be so proud of the place they call home and demonstrate why they believe, valley life is the best life.
For any questions or comments, please reach out to any VLR Board member or send an email to valleyliferec@gmail.com.
