The executive director of Mennonite Heritage Village has floated the idea of working with the City of Steinbach to develop a campground on the north side of the museum property. Gary Dyck made a presentation to city council as it met in committee Tuesday night. He says the idea of a campground is very preliminary at this point.

"It is a very small germ of an idea. I just thought I would put it out there and see if there is interest. We still need to talk about it as a board. I just thought if there is interest on their (the city's) end, then we can actually start thinking about it. That was my objective."

Dyck adds the concept came to him after hearing from several potential visitors who decided not to come here because there was not a campground.

"I know people, even just from MacGregor, not the far away, they decided not to come to Steinbach because there was no campground right in the Steinbach area. They wanted to spend at least a couple of days doing things and without a campground, they didn't come. I heard that a few times."

Mayor Earl Funk says it's certainly something worth looking at.

"I think it's a really good ask. It's an idea in its infancy and I think it's something that we'll have to look into and see and maybe it will develop over time."

The city has asked Dyck to develop a rough concept plan for city council to discuss at its fall study session in November.

Dyck also asked the city to consider extending the walking/cycling path along Highway #12 to the museum grounds. He says it is something that is really needed.

"During our festival days, we have mothers with strollers and children walking, and they have to walk on the highway for that last bit. It's a shame. It's the biggest tourist attraction around and yet the path stops just short of it. It wouldn't take much, so I asked them to consider that."

Funk says city council will take a look at it.

"We're always looking at our regional pathways and how to link our residents with amenities in our community. So yes, we will definitely be looking at that and we'll probably have an answer for them, not right away, but probably in a year or so."