Grand Concourse breaking more trail in Manuels

by Craig Westcott, The Shoreline

The Grand Concourse Authority has been hired to build a new trail to the beach in Manuels.

Budgeted to cost some $66,379, the trail will run from the intersection of Junco Place and Smith Place off Cherry Lane right to the waterline.

Councillor-at-large Christine Butler said the money for the work will come from the Town’s trails maintenance budget.

Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse, who represents the area as the Ward 2 councillor, filled in some background on the decision.

“Residents in the area of Cherry Lane, Smiths Place, Atkins Place had met with some members of council last fall (during the municipal election),” Gosse said. “Some of the access to the beach in the area had been lost due to shoreline stabilization projects that had been done in the area to protect certain properties. “So, in trying to find a solution to get them some beach access, it was discussed that the Town has a piece of property from the subdivision at the bottom of Smiths Place off Junco that we could (use to) develop an access to the beach. This was part of the subdivision agreement when that was done – some access to the beach had been conveyed to the Town. So, after council reviewed it and we talked about it last fall in length, after the election, we said we’d like to move forward and create this trailway which would give the residents of the area some beach access. The Grand Concourse is ready to go and get that work done, so they actually might get to have some access before the summer and fall season closes in on us.”