East St. Paul, Manitoba

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Rural Municipality of East St. Paul
Coordinates: 49°58′19″N 97°2′23″W / 49.97194, -97.03972
Founded
Incorporation
Population (2006)[1]
 - Total 8,733
 - Density 42.10/km² (109/sq mi)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Website: http://www.eaststpaul.com/

East St. Paul is a rural municipality in Manitoba, Canada. It is located north east and adjacent to the city of Winnipeg, and is part of Winnipeg's Metropolitan Area. The municipality encompasses 16 square miles (41 square kilometres) and is bounded by the Red River to the west, the municipality of St. Clements to the north; the Rural Municipality of Springfield to the east; and Winnipeg to the south.

East St. Paul continues to be one of the fastest growing municipalities in Manitoba. The population of East St. paul increased by 1056 persons (up 13.85%) over the 2001 census count. The municipality attracts people from Winnipeg and elsewhere due to its close proximity to city amenities, the availability of larger lots, lower rates of property tax, and ability to provide a semi-rural relaxed lifestyle.

It includes Birds Hill, River East Estates, and Pritchard Farm Estates, which is one of Manitoba's wealthiest communities. New home development is underway at Southlands Drive. East St. Paul still contains numerous small farms, primarily of the market gardening variety, and natural forest, creek and pond areas .

The municipality offers a wide range of community programs and recreation services through the Rec Centre. Residents enjoy many winter activities including curling and skating. There is a toboggan hill at Siver Springs Park. Summer activities include soccer and baseball at the East St. Paul outdoor Recreation Complex. Sports fishing is popular on the Red River. The Meadows 18 hole golf course is nearby.

The Trans Canada Trail goes through East St. Paul. The municipality with its citizens and local businesses has enhanced the quality of life by planting trees and creating several beautiful walking trails and pathways.

Pathway connecting Chase Drive with Birchwood Crescent, East St. Paul.
Pathway connecting Chase Drive with Birchwood Crescent, East St. Paul.

A habitat rehabilitation project at Birds Hill, Manitoba transformed an East St. Paul depleted gravel pit into Silver Springs Park, complete with trails, a lake, and homes built along part of its perimeter. The park has become a habitat showpiece for people and wildlife. The depleted quarry was graded and landscaped with native grasses and more than 1,200 trees and shrubs. Geese, ducks, terns, gulls, pelicans, songbirds, foxes, rabbits, turtles, muskrats and deer now frequent the park. The pit dates to the late 1800s, when the Canadian Pacific Railway needed gravel ballast for its rail lines. The deposit was later worked to serve Winnipeg's needs for aggregate. Over the years, more than 20 million tonnes of gravel were removed from the site. A non-profit group called the Silver Springs Fish & Wildlife Heritage Park Inc. began the first phase of development of the park in 1990, which is now maintained by the municipality of East St. Paul.

Silver Springs Park viewed from Birds Hill, East St. Paul.
Silver Springs Park viewed from Birds Hill, East St. Paul.

Other parks in East St. Paul are Hyland Park, Glengarry Community Park, Clydesdale Park, and Memorial Park.

[edit] References

  1. ^ July 1, 2006 est.
  • [1] Statisics Canada East St. Paul community profile

[edit] External links