Money designated to clean northside wetland
By JACQUELINE LEBLANC
leblanc.jacqueline@dailygleaner.com
Published Monday July 16th, 2007
Appeared on page A4
President of Business Fredericton North Anne Baldaro says she's excited to mark the beginning of an investment to restore a wetland in the heart of her organization's business improvement area.
"It's a great opportunity for our businesses because there will be more walking traffic," she said. "It could potentially be a destination for tourists and our local residents who are interested in wetlands and nature. And it's an extension of the trail system."
The Environmental Trust Fund and the City of Fredericton have teamed up with Business Fredericton North to improve the area around the wetland, which covers the area from the Snow Storage Facility to the Superstore area, and from the river to the back of Hillcourt.
The University of New Brunswick and Ducks Unlimited are additional partners in the project.
A minimum of $60,000 will be invested in two separate projects on the city's north side.
The first project, which will cost a minimum of $50,000, will restore the wetland.
The project will also involve new trails, interpretive signs, tree planting, a boardwalk, nesting platforms and more.
Business Fredericton North will also invest a minimum $10,000 for the second project to beautify the streets.
Currently, Business Fredericton North funds all the planters that decorate the business improvement area.
"I would think that our businesses will be extremely pleased," Baldaro said. "And certainly there may be an opportunity that we can draw more business to that area."
Baldaro said the improvement won't only benefit businesses.
"For our schools, it's an opportunity for an outdoor classroom," she said. "And because we're extending the trail down to where the old Nashwaaksis arena was, it's a great opportunity to park up and walk in through that way as well."
Trina MacDonald, general manager of Business Fredericton North, said this project will help the north side attract tourists.
"Right now, we're lacking a tourism node on the north side," MacDonald said. "This is an opportunity to create at least one tourism node on the north side which will integrate with the trail system.
"So now when tourists are in the downtown, going to all of the things happening at the Garrison District, it'll give them a reason when they are crossing the train bridge to make their way down to the Main Street area and have a look at what is going on there."
Already, Business Fredericton North has cleaned up the wetland area.
MacDonald said people were using it as a dumping site.
They retrieved nearly 400 tires from the wetland.
Some of the improvements should be complete by the end of the summer.
MacDonald said she anticipates the entire project being completed by next year.