greenway
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“It is peaceful, and there’s not much traffic,”
said Melinda Holloway, cyclist of Hammond.
“There’s a lot of scenery in the marshland, and it’s
a nice quiet road to bike on. There is a view of
Lake Maurepas and the Manchac Path that is just
gorgeous.”
Holloway has played a major role in the
planning of the path for a year. Although it is still
in its infancy, she sees much hope for it.
“I love the outdoors, and I’m so excited to
the improvements that are going
to be happening to the Manchac
Greenway,” said Holloway. “There
are a lot of things already there. It’s
very green and sunny.”
Some travel the greenway by day,
and others by night. Byron Almquist
is a tour guide and outfitter for Canoe
& Trail Adventures. He leads groups
of people on canoes in the Manchac
wetlands by moonlight.
“I like the idea because it has
the potential for more outdoor
recreation and nature appreciation,”
said Almquist. “If you are speaking
only of the old US-51 corridor, it is
just a highway. But if you include
the Manchac Wetlands in both
directions, then I think that most
people would find them attractive if
they could get access to the interior
by boat, bike or on foot.”
In the future, the committee
will be formulating a plan to have
a major off-the-road fishing pier.
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Currently, people have been known to pull off to
the side of the road, park and go fishing. Neelis sees
the danger in this and wanted to create something
safe for families to enjoy.
Additionally, the group will work to restore native
vegetation and try to uproot the invasive plants.
This would make the swamp a more appropriate
home for migratory birds as the wetlands serve as
a flyway.
The leaders renovating the greenway also strive
to bring restoration of health to the community.
“The big issue is people’s health,” said Neelis.
“By providing these facilities, it would encourage
healthy activities. We want to provide a good,
healthy venue for people to use.”
For updates and more information, visit the
Facebook page called “Manchac Greenway” or
visit manchacgreenway.org.