Assiniboine Forest is a regional park in

Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...

and the largest urban forest in Canada, comprising an area of over 285 hectares. It's located within the suburban area of Charleswood and is surrounded by

Grant Avenue Grant Avenue in San Francisco, California, is one of the oldest streets in the city's Chinatown district. It runs in a north–south direction starting at Market Street in the heart of downtown and dead-ending past Francisco Street in the North ...

, Chalfont Road, Wilkes Avenue, and Shaftesbury Boulevard. The Forest consists of old growth aspen and oak trees, as well as wetlands; open meadows of tall-grass prairie; and a 12-acre pond. These habitats collectively include various species of plants and animals, including a resident population of white-tailed deer and nesting waterfowl. The Forest also contains 18 kilometres of maintained (paved, woodchip, and crushed limestone) multi-use trails that are accessed year-round by walkers; runners; cyclists; and in the winter; cross-country skiers. A surrounding system of paved trails connects these pathways northward to

Assiniboine Park Assiniboine Park (formerly known as City Park) is a park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, located along the Assiniboine River. The Winnipeg Public Parks Board was formed in 1893, and purchased the initial land for the park in 1904. Although in use ...

and southward to the Harte Trail. Since 1990, the Assiniboine Forest has been maintained by the Winnipeg Charleswood Rotary Club.

History

The Assiniboine Forest was originally going to be razed as part of a suburban development of what was originally the

Town of Tuxedo Tuxedo is a residential suburb of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Prior to 1972, the community was incorporated as the Town of Tuxedo. Today, it is the wealthiest area of Winnipeg, with the highest property values. It is located about 7 kilometres (4.5 mile ...

. By 1920, a development plan was in place and road cuts were made. However, due to the

stock market crash of 1929 The Wall Street Crash of 1929, also known as the Great Crash, was a major American stock market crash that occurred in the autumn of 1929. It started in September and ended late in October, when share prices on the New York Stock Exchange colla ...

and subsequent

economic depression An economic depression is a period of carried long-term economical downturn that is result of lowered economic activity in one major or more national economies. Economic depression maybe related to one specific country were there is some economic ...

, plans for its development were stopped. In the 1960s, local residents and City of Winnipeg Councillor Bernie R. Wolfe became interested in protecting the forest and the wildlife within. Although the Town of Tuxedo was not interested in this idea, it joined the City of Winnipeg in 1971, making the possibility of preserving the Forest more likely. In 1973, after persistent efforts by individuals and concerned citizen groups, particularly the Assiniboine Park Centennial Committee, Assiniboine Forest was preserved as a municipal nature park. Today, the Charleswood Rotary Club acts as the Forest's custodian, maintaining and increasing the Forest's amenities for city residents. There are currently no by-laws that protect it from development. As of March 2023, the

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) (french: la Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada (SNAP)) was founded in 1963 to help protect Canada's wilderness. Overview CPAWS was initially known as the National and Provincial Pa ...

is lobbying for Assiniboine Forest to be fully certified as a national urban park and permanently protected from future development.

References

Parks in Winnipeg {{Manitoba-geo-stub Regional parks of Canada

History

See also

References