Use Red River Floodway to save Forks' riverwalk, Gerbasi says

A Winnipeg city councillor, frustrated with perennial flooding of the riverwalk at The Forks, is trying to re-float an idea that Greg Selinger promised he'd address six years ago.

Fort Rouge East Fort Garry Coun. Jenny Gerbasi is frustrated that once again, parts of the trail along both the Red and Assiniboine Rivers are underwater after recent rainfall.

• Large parts of riverwalk by The Forks flooded out, closed

But Gerbasi says it's a chronic condition that's gone unchecked, and it has big implications for the city.

"It's been really bad over the last five years and it really reduces the activity at The Forks and the things that we can do," she said Wednesday.

"I wouldn't dismiss it as just a little walking trail. I mean it's a huge impact on the vitality of our city and the opportunities for people to enjoy the river and The Forks and the downtown and it has a pretty big impact and if people aren't going there because of it, it's unfortunate."

Gerbasi wants the province to operate the Red River Floodway and save the trail.

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In 2009, when Greg Selinger was vying to replace Gary Doer as premier, he said the floodway should be used more to prevent summer rains from flooding out the riverwalk.

"With our investment in the floodway, one of the things we'll do moving forward is ensure that this walkway system is more available for the use of Winnipeggers," Selinger said.

Gerbasi says she hopes the relationship between the city and province will improve to the point something gets done.

"We have a new council, we have a new mayor. There's perhaps a better relationship and perhaps we can work through that with them," she said.

CBC's requests for comment from the province have not yet been returned.