Christmas was good for members of the Bayfield River Flats Trail Association.
Chair Dave Gillians explains the sale of the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area to the Association was finalized in December. The flats are beside the bridge at the north end of Bayfield.
Gillians says their association had concerns about the potential environmental threats to the area through neglect, but also the possibility that someone could attempt to have the zoning changed from natural environment to commercial.
Gillians says the area has been neglected for a hundred years so there's a significant amount of cleaning up to be done. They'd like to put in native trees, benches along the river, a play area for children and other things that are consistent with a natural area.
The purchase price for the property was $50,000 and Gillians credits the support from the community with raising the money.
Gillians says they're hoping to get the flats cleaned up and the trees planted by the end of this year because near the end of 2017 construction on the new bridge will begin.
They've been told the MTO will need part of the flats for the construction of the temporary bridge and they won't be able to do anything with the property for the next three years while the bridge is under construction.
