Neepawa Unveils Name to New World Class Park – HyLife Back Forty

HyLife is excited to announce the Neepawa multi-use trail park’s official name – HyLife Back Forty.

The Town of Neepawa, together with the Neepawa Regional Recreation Steering Committee, have developed forty acres of land into a four-season, accessible recreation space for all ages.

“The timing of this park couldn’t be better,” says Lyle Loewen, HyLife’s Senior Director of Operations at HyLife, who was speaking on behalf of HyLife at the grand opening event. “We are all looking for local entertainment options as we find relief from the current pandemic. This park allows us to do that, not just in the summer but 365 days a year, as this is an all-year-round adventure attraction!”

In 2019, the Town of Neepawa started upgrades to the town’s lagoon system. Clay was taken from a 40-acre parcel of land for the construction project. That left a borrow pit that needed to be converted back to a hayfield once the project was completed. Around the same time, the Neepawa Area Regional Recreation Master Plan was completed. The plan identified that walking and cycling paths were among the top three recreation needs for the community.

“The borrow pit presented the ideal canvas to not only build an important recreational space but also build community pride,” said Neepawa Mayor, Blake McCutcheon. “The trail park provides the Neepawa area with a unique outdoor recreation experience for everyone to use.”

Back Forty is a commonly used agricultural term, and that combined with the fact that the space of land was forty acres and right in Neepawa’s backyard brought the concept to life.

Already open to the public, with more features planned for 2021, the park will provide free recreation to a variety of users. The park will feature walking paths, biking trails, tobogganing, bird watching, picnic areas, snowshoeing, fat biking trails, cross country skiing, and outdoor classrooms.

“This is an exciting project for the community,” said HyLife’s President and Chief Executive Officer Grant Lazaruk. “We are proud to be involved in a recreational project that our entire community will enjoy.”

“The residents of the Neepawa area will benefit from this trail park,” says Darryl Gerrard, Chair of the Neepawa Regional Recreation Steering Committee. “This new recreation space will also become a tourism draw, attracting families, cycling enthusiasts, and competitive events to our region.”

HyLife is excited to be the primary sponsor of the HyLife Back Forty and look forward to a long successful community partnership with this world-class multi-use trail park.