The Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Charleswood has hired Public City to undertake a strategic design plan for the Assiniboine Forest. The strategic design plan is the result of having carried out a site investigation, a community consultation and collaboration between Public City, the Rotary Club, and the City of Winnipeg Naturalist Services Branch. The intention is to preserve the natural qualities of the forest while also looking to improve and enhance existing facilities to serve visitors of all ages and abilities. Besides developing a new graphic design to represent the Assiniboine Forest, the main project areas include ideas on an interpretation centre, wayfinding signage, a public washroom, possible parking options, a way to recognize donors and adding to existing pathways to make them accessible to all.
Jack showed images of the new graphic design prepared to represent the Assiniboine Forest and briefly discussed the various options that the Assiniboine Forest Enhancement Committee has to deal with before making any decisions.
It was interesting to learn that there were over 200,000 person-visits that went through the Assiniboine Forest in the past year. CPAWS (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society) is quite interested in developing an education program that would involve the Forest, which in turn would involve students from all over the city and from outside Winnipeg as well.
Jack ended his presentation by inviting members to feel free to ask questions any time about what is going on in the forest or about becoming more involved with the Forest.