 |
Our Current Board: | |
| Executive Committee Thelma Hodder - Chairperson Jan Spracklin - Vice-Chairperson Noreen Tilley - Treasurer Barbara FitzGerald - Secretary |
Directors Arnold Bennett Nancy Bennett Cynthia Brown Jan Spracklin Eric Stentaford Kay Newell Shaun McCarthy Karen Spencer Craig Sheppard Joanne Stone Pat Jones Nathaniel Noel |
|
The Manuels River Natural Heritage Society (MRNHS) is a local, non-profit environmental organization made up of a group of volunteers from the Conception Bay South area. It's main goal is to protect and conserve the natural, cultural, and geological history of the Manuels River system through the development and maintenance of a linear park.
| The Kingfisher, the central figure in our logo, represents the untamed side of nature. The heritage fence links the human element to nature. The background spruce trees represent the variety of flora existent along the river. Finally the River itself. All of this is enclosed in the scallop shell, which links all life to the sea. |  |
During the past eleven years the Manuels River Natural Heritage Society has taken a major river in Conception Bay South, removed truckloads of garbage and old automobiles from the area, and developed the Manuels River Linear Park. The Society has developed the river and its banks as a conservation area with walking trails, a car parking lot, and a Visitor's Center. It offers educational programs such as geology walks and wildflower walks to allow visitors and residents to appreciate the natural beauty of the area and learn about its history and geological significance.
 |
The Visitor's Center provides information on the park such as trail maps, geological brochures and wildflower guides, and during the tourist season staff is available to conduct tours and lead family campfires. The approximately 4 km of trails at Manuels River are most easily accessed through the Visitor's Center, which is located at the junction between the Conception Bay Highway and the Manuels Access Road. This beautiful trail and linear park offers the opportunity for relaxation, physical activity and environmental education. It provides a beautiful environment for families to walk, picnic, enjoy campfire sing-a-longs, etc. |
| In 1999, thanks to a generous grant, the Society was able to carry out a much needed upgrading of the downstream section of walking trails, added viewing areas, seating areas and constructed a pedestrian underpass to allow walkers to safely move from the downstream walking trails, under the four traffic lanes of Route 60 to carry on upstream to the area known as The Canyon. Two new steel pedestrian bridges were installed in 2000 which provides access to both sides of the river in several strategic places. |  |
 |
While the Society realizes the importance of the Manuels River Linear Park as a tourist attraction and its economic benefit to the Town of Conception Bay South, the mandate of the Society continues to be the preservation of the Manuels River and the river valley. The Society encourages visitors to use and enjoy the park but not at the expense of the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the area. |