Fort Smith (July 07/03) - An interpretive park - part of the Trans-Canada Trail system - is nearing completion in Fort Smith.

"It's the symbolic crossing of the 60th parallel," said Don Jaque, chair of the local Trans-Canada Trail committee.

During their recent visit to Fort Smith, members of the RCMP Musical Ride posed underneath the archway entrance to the Desnethe Trans-Canada Trail Park. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

The Trans-Canada Trail crosses the country and heads north into the territories via the Athabasca River at Fort McMurray. It returns to land between Fort Fitzgerald, and Fort Smith on the Desnethe (Grand River) section of the Trans-Canada Trail.

Ten interpretive panels are planned for the park, which is located in a wooded area 800 meters from the NWT border, next to the Anglican Church, which donated the land.

Subjects for the panels include natural history, wood bison, whooping cranes, Wood Buffalo National Park, and the history of the Dene and Metis.

"It's a community effort. It's all volunteer," said Jaque.

The park opens officially on Sept. 14, but Jaque said it's "something that may be a work in progress for a long time."

The most impressive feature so far is a large log archway at the entrance to the park. A brick pathway will also be added.

The project has been supported by RWED, the national Trans-Canada Trail committee and donations.

Jaque estimates about $40,000 has been spent on the project, not counting donated labour and supplies.