Meewasin Valley Authority unveils new Kinsmen Waterfront trail

By Halyna Mihalik

People looking for a place to take a stroll in Saskatoon have a new option.

The Meewasin Valley Authority has launched a new walking section of the Meewasin trail, the Kinsmen Waterfront section. It’s situated right near the site of Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and Kinsmen Park.

Because of the trail’s close proximity to many attractions, accessibility was a main priority. A few things were done specifically to make the trail accessible to all.

“(There’s) better sloping for folks that need help getting in and out of the trail,” said Meewasin CEO Andrea Lafond. “And (there’s) the opportunity for emergency vehicles to get down because we have a very active space here.”

The Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan site has also seen some upgrades during this time, and trails throughout downtown Saskatoon are going to be seeing improvements as Meewasin continues to enhance its trails.

Meewasin has surpassed the expected turnout for its walking trails. Last year alone, there were 2.32 million visitors.

“We’re surpassing any of the projections that have happened,” said Lafond. “For Meewasin, it’s meaningful when we see those numbers increase because that means our community is focused on their mental and physical health.”

Future plans for the area include the addition of interactive panels that would give a brief description of the history of the area. That way, the walking trail would be an educational experience too.

The plans have been done with the help of the federal and provincial governments as well as donors. A section of the Meewasin Trail has been added to the Trans Canada Trail network in the southwest.