The temperature Tuesday reached just above the freezing mark in Winnipeg and officials made the call to officially close the Red River Mutual trail to skaters for the season.
A news release from The Forks said this winter was a memorable one for the skating trail, which was open for a record 76 days.
“Despite the polar vortex that was most of this winter season, we had another exceptional year out on the Red River Mutual Trail,” said Paul Jordan, chief executive officer of The Forks.
The Forks noted the trail was open for only 33 days altogether in 2017, and 72 in 2018, when its own record for length was set at 10 kilometres.
This year, at its longest, the trail spanned 8.6 kilometres.
The Forks said counters at the Port pegged the total number of people accessing the trail there at nearly 800,000 between the beginning of December and the end of February.
“Thanks to all those who made great use of the trail this year,” Jordan said. “It’s exciting to see the city come to life and convene on the rivers in the wintertime – it’s something that makes Winnipeg really exceptional.”
The Forks advised people to stay off of the river now that the trail is closed. It said skating trails on land at the historic site will remain open, weather permitting.
