After many months, and countless hours of hard work by community volunteers, the people of Clyde River officially opened their new recreation park today. Murchison Place is a wooded sanctuary with a wheelchair accessible wooden walkway, playground equipment, a tree-house, gazebo and picnic tables.
The $48,900 project received funding under the Canada-PEI Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF). Costs are shared on a one-third basis between the federal and provincial governments as well as the Community of Clyde River.
“Canada’s New Government recognizes that building stronger, safer and more prosperous communities is important to all Canadians- and we will continue to help build such communities right here in Prince Edward Island,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “We appreciate the hard work of the people of Clyde River and anyone who visits Murchison Place will see, first-hand, what can happen when volunteers come together to work on a project that benefits the entire community.”
“This newly revived park integrates a playground, picnic areas and even a basketball court into the natural tree sanctuary already existing in Clyde River,” said the Honourable Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour. “I am proud that the government of Prince Edward Island was able to play a role in funding this project. Investment in infrastructure, such as this park, helps to encourage people to get outside and promotes physical activity, which leads to healthy, active communities.”
“The Clyde River Recreation Spaces Project, Murchison Place, is one of the largest projects this community has ever undertaken,” said Peter McCrady, Chair of the Clyde River Community Council. “It is a success both in terms of the end result and because of the community involvement and sense of community pride that has come about because of it.”
Located at the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Clyde River Road, Murchison Place has gardens with perennials and trees originally found on the property in the 1900’s.
The MRIF funding was also used to install a new septic system for the Riverview Community Centre, for fencing and landscaping as well as upgrades for energy efficiency. The Centre is now wheelchair accessible with a wheelchair accessible bathroom.