The Rural Municipality of DeSalaberry has announced the recent acquisition of the former Esso gas station property in St. Malo which will be the future home of a roadside rest area. 

Located just off of highway 59 on the south side of Avenue De La Grotte, Reeve Marc Marion says the land was gifted to the province by the federal government after they decontaminated the soil. He notes they purchased the land for just over $40,000 with money from their general reserve fund. Marion explains what the intent is with the property.  

Sketch of the future St. Malo Roadside Rest Area

"Really, it's to get the best practices we can out of that land. Right now it's not serving anybody and it's a bit of an eyesore. Since St. Malo is the biggest community in our R.M. we want to be able to put something there that's aesthetically pleasing to the public."

Current plans are to develop the green space into a roadside rest area which will include parking, restrooms, signage and an area for vendors to set up in the summer. As for future plans, Marion says that's still being discussed.

"Since this is the main entrance to St. Malo, council has decided to purchase that land and work with local community organizations to see what we could do with it. It could become a park, it could become something else we haven't quite set our minds yet of what it could be." 

Marion adds a formal name and future plans for the site have not yet been determined but he says the goal of this project is to create a welcoming space for the community of St. Malo and its visitors.