06/06/2022
New walking trail stepping closer to completion.
By Daniel Bushman
After a soggy start to spring delaying progress on a new walking trail that will link Watrous and Manitou Beach, with some nicer weather, work is feverishly underway to see it completed. Aiming to have the substantial project finished by sometime in July, local resident Ron Ediger along with his company Melron Services Ltd. are hard at work to ensure everything comes together. Seeing a need to create a trail that would essentially join Watrous and Manitou Beach, Ediger wanted to help make it happen after the Watrous Rotary along with generous sponsors and volunteers created a pair of trails for residents and visitors to use near Watrous. The new trail, which crews from Melron Services Ltd. have been busy working on will extend approximately three kilometres between Watrous and Manitou Beach. After receiving all of the necessary approvals and covering the cost of the project, Ediger started work this past fall before winter arrived. Building up lower spots and clearing a path in 2021, this past week graders were out levelling portions of the trail while other parts were being built up. “There is still quite a bit of work to do but once we get rolling here it should go pretty quickly,” said Ediger. With packing, adding a base top and seal coat left to be done, once finished, the pad for people to walk or bike on will span 10 feet wide with about a two foot slope on either side. “There should be lots of room so people can enjoy using the trail once it is done.” Extending northeast from the first trail originally completed by the Watrous Rotary, the third trail will continue past a gazebo toward the Watrous Cemetery. Walkers can veer off the gravel road as the new trail will take them along a corner of the cemetery to the main gates. From there proper signage will be installed to allow walkers to cross Hwy. 365 to the other side of the trail. Once across the highway, the trail will run alongside Hwy. 365 toward Manitou Beach. Reaching the turnoff to Murray Disc Golf, Ediger has extended a portion of that gravel road which now wraps around a slough and into a field. “We have received permission from the owners to use part of their land which was really generous so we have the trail running right next to the slough and then toward the farmyard.” At the farmyard, a path has been cut near the hedges adjacent to the highway and Ediger will also be installing a six foot barrier on the other side to allow privacy from the yard site. The trail then continues alongside the highway running between a pasture and signs at the entrance to the Resort Village of Manitou Beach. Creating walking space near another home, the trail will go through a treed area before reaching the Manitou and District Regional Park campground. With room around somehedges, the trail will lead walkers by the entrance of the park and then out in front of The Drive-In at Manitou Beach where a path is currently being used. Redoing that path, Ediger explained the trail will come to a conclusion at Lakeview Avenue, near the Resort Village of Manitou Beach’s office and the Manitou Mini Golf. “Having the trail end there will allow people to take in the nearby attractions or they can continue along to the beach,” said Ediger who shared he is also planning to create a structure at that location with a bit of nostalgia. “There used to be a building called The Arcade Dance Pavilion at the beach and I am planning to make a smaller replica of it.” Octagonal in design and used in the earlier 1900s, The Arcade Dance Pavilion featured an area for dancing and was 90 to 100 feet across with an elevated orchestra platform in the centre. Over the years it was later used for a roller skating rink and as a theatre before it was torn down in 1939-‘40. “I think having the replica of The Arcade will be a neat tribute to the history of the resort community and bring back some memories for people.” Watrous Town Councillor Jean Margetts is part of a committee working with Ediger on the trail. Joined by other representatives from Watrous and Manitou Beach, Margetts is excited about the progress on the trail and said a few people have been asking how they can donate towards it. “Ron has shared with us he will be covering the cost of the project but if people do want to donate funds, they could be used for solar lighting and beautification along the trail. All donations can be given to either the Town of Watrous or the Resort Village of Manitou Beach and a tax receipt can be issued.” There are also very limited spots for benches along the trail and while two have already been spoken for, if there is interest in sponsoring a memorial bench, Margetts said inquiries can be sent to the Resort Village of Manitou Beach. “They are looking after that and will pass along any requests to Ron.” Looking forward to seeing the project completed in a few short months, Ediger said, “Melron Services Ltd. is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year so it is my hope to be able to have a big celebration to commemorate the anniversary and cut the ribbon for the trail so that people can enjoy safely walking from one community to the other. Twenty-five years ago I came here with a single backhoe and this community and the area has been so good to us. I thought, why not give back? I am always thinking about what I can do and I just thought I would like to do some good things here and leave a bit of a legacy to the communities.” Delighted to see the progress on the trail after work started this past year, Watrous Rotarian Al Mosewich who was one of those integral in seeing the two phases of the local Rotary Trails created said once the new trail is completed it will be a tremendous benefit to residents and visitors. “It is quite a huge project and not everyone has the ability to do something like this. Ron is in the unique position of having the equipment, staffing, material and financial resources to do this. He saw the vision that the Rotary Club had and is the type of guy who can get it done.” Citing how Ron and his late wife Melissa were big supporters of community through numerous contributions over the years, Mosewich said the trail will remain along that same theme of community, bringing both Watrous and Manitou Beach together. “It is very exciting and I know that a lot of people are looking forward to seeing it built and used for many years to come.”
