November 5, 1998
(COOPERATION AGREEMENT)

Alexander Murray Hiking Trail to be stepped up

Hikers along a popular trail in the Green Bay area will soon notice a difference under foot. The Green Bay Tourism Association received a contribution of $273,137 from the Canada/Newfoundland Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement to upgrade the Alexander Murray Hiking Trail.

The announcement was made today by Fred Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal.

"A 1990 study entitled, Adventure Travel in Eastern Canada concluded that Newfoundland offers the best potential of all regions in eastern Canada to attract the quickly growing adventure tourism market," said Minister Mifflin. "This project is envisioned as an anchor tourism attraction for the Green Bay region. Hikers from around the world will come to experience the diverse landscape this region has to offer. This will have spin off benefits for accommodations, restaurants, craft shops, and other local businesses."

The trail begins near King's Point and runs to the entrance of the Corner Brook Gorge, through a variety of terrain and ground cover. It climbs from the entrance of the gorge to the top of the Haypook Lookout with a side trail that descends a steep ravine leading to the Corner Brook Falls. The trail then descends along a tributary of Gull Brook to Gull Brook Falls and then loops back to meet what local people call moose barrens.

"Adventure tourism is on the upswing and this project will help the trail to become an anchor tourism attraction for Green Bay," said Minister Tulk. "From 1992 to 1995, over 2,000 people from Europe, Canada and the United States hiked the Alexander Murray Trail. These improvements can only increase the trail's attractiveness. This project, which has been identified as a priority for the Emerald Zone Board, will help diversify the economy of Green Bay, create new jobs in rural Newfoundland, create opportunities for existing businesses to expand, and encourage new business start-ups."

This initiative includes upgrading the existing trail, constructing rest facilities, and developing lookout points. The six-kilometre trail will be constructed to the standards of other major parks in the province and will be well-defined, mapped and marked with interpretive signage. A large illustrated map will be placed at the beginning of the trail network with accompanying information on the scenic attractions, trail rules and regulations, flora and fauna, geology and human history of the area. This project will create 12 jobs during construction.

The Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement is a 70:30 cost-shared agreement between the federal and provincial governments respectively. The agreement is administered federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and provincially by the Department of Development and Rural Renewal.

For more information, please contact:

Randy Devine
ACOA
(709) 772-2935

Scott Reid
Development and Rural Renewal
(709) 729-4570

Don Snow
GBTA
(709) 673-3608

1998 11 05                      3:50 p.m.