Murphy Lake Trail Opens in Mount Uniacke

Residents, trail walkers and history enthusiasts were on hand today in Mount Uniacke as Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture, opened the community's new Murphy Lake Trail.

"The trail is a scenic physical link between the existing trails of the community of Mount Uniacke and the province's Uniacke Estate Museum Park," said Mr. MacDonald. "It is also a symbolic link between Mount Uniacke's citizens and the rich cultural and natural history of the province represented in Richard John Uniacke's estate from the early 1800s."

Spear-headed by the Uniacke Heritage Society, the Murphy Lake Trail was developed to create a link between the existing Mount Uniacke Barrier-free Boardwalk and the seven existing walking trails at Uniacke Estate Museum Park.

The short trail, a gentle walk that takes less than 20 minutes, starts behind the fire hall in Mount Uniacke. It emerges on the Drumlin Field Trail at Uniacke Estate Museum Park. The seven trails at Uniacke Estate Museum Park take from 30 minutes to several hours to walk and currently attract thousands of visitors every year.

In addition to walkers, hikers, and cross-country skiers, the trails are popular places for birders and naturalists. History enthusiasts are struck by the area's cultural landscape - grounds that retain the fields of view and landscape elements from its original time period of the early 1800s.

Mr. MacDonald praised the people and agencies that worked together to plan and implement the project.

"Our government applauds this kind of co-operative development in rural communities," said the minister. He added that he sees future tourism benefits for the community due to the linked trail system.

In addition to Mount Uniacke's location at the beginning of the Evangeline Trail, many visitors to Nova Scotia are now seeking healthy activities - such as walking excursions - that also provide an opportunity to discover the province's cultural history and natural environment.

The Murphy Lake Trail project was completed by the Uniacke Heritage Society with the support and co-operation of the Nova Scotia Museum, the Annapolis Valley Housing Authority, the Municipality of East Hants, the Cobequid Community Health Board, residents of Mount Uniacke, and the Halifax Correctional Centre Inmate Volunteer Work Program.