SUNDRE – After slowly but surely taking shape over the past few years, the new interpretive nature boardwalk on the east side of town is complete.
A grand opening for the boardwalk, which can be accessed courtesy of a wheelchair and stroller friendly ramp over the berm near the Visitor Information Centre, was held on the afternoon Friday, June 14.
About 30 people attended the unveiling, including Sundre mayor Richard Warnock, who was joined by several members of council and administration, as well as MLA Jason Nixon and Ric McIver, minister of Municipal Affairs. Brenda Holder, who operates Mahikan Trails, was also part of the grand opening and following a smudging ceremony she offered some insight into traditional knowledge during a medicine walk.
“It’s a great way to officially kick things off, so we’re all pretty excited,” Mike Beukeboom, the project’s lead who years ago spearheaded the initiative with support from volunteers, donors and the municipality, told the Albertan leading up to the event.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, but actually really good work and it’s been a fun job,” Beukeboom said during a phone interview two days prior to the planned opening.
“We’ve all enjoyed it very much.”
Among the finishing touches the volunteer construction crew was completing leading up to the official opening was the installation of informational signage made by Sundre-based Side Line Design, including the welcome sign, land acknowledgment sign, our sponsors and volunteers, he said.
“And then we kind of get into the animals and one of the plants; there’ll be more signs to come, but that’ll just add a little bit as we go,” he said.
Otherwise, Beukeboom said the project is done.
However, there exists the potential to eventually include new elements.
“I think in the future, there’s always opportunities to add little bump-outs here and there with some new information,” he said.
“I wouldn’t even call it expansion. We get that question a lot: are you going to add another kilometre of boardwalk? People would love that – the few that have asked about that – but really, we always have to keep in mind our beautiful Red Deer River.”
The waterway is, after all, well known to sometimes become swollen with high flows that can substantially erode the river’s banks, he said.
“Where the boardwalk is built, it’s protected by the bridge and the highway,” he said.
“I’d be reluctant to run (any expansions to the boardwalk) along the shore, for example, of the river,” he explained.
“I think at some point, that could be a problem if the river gets a little bit wet and wild again and we lose some embankments here and there – you could lose a significant amount of the boardwalk,” he said.
“And that’s why we literally just ran a straight arm out to the river and didn’t follow along the river (bank) for that very reason.”
The remaining portions of the boardwalk runs a loop through the natural and essentially undisturbed wooded area behind the berm near the Visitor Information Centre.
“This is really the only area that I would’ve looked at doing this project,” he said.
“We really don’t have any industry or housing or commercial-based businesses this close to the river over on this side. This was an ideal location for this project. And it’s beautiful down here – it’s just really neat,” he said.
“Every single time I’m down here, I see something new,” he said, whether that might be a new plant or a new bird.
“It’s incredible, the things you see when you spend enough time down here.”
After finding the time on the side to complete the project over the past few years, Beukeboom for now intends to catch his breath and focus on his business.
But he remains open to future possibilities.
“We’ll see what comes up – what other projects are out there,” he said. “I’m always wanting and willing to help, when and where I can.”
For now, Beukeboom is content to bask in the moment that took years of work to finally achieve, and is glad that the people he’s heard from so far seem pleased with the project’s results.
“They’re just so grateful that it’s here,” he said. “And that’s why we built it.”
