It was a big weekend for a popular tourist attraction in southern New Brunswick.

The Fundy Trail Parkway, located between St. Martins and Alma, celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Construction of the more than 30-kilometre-long parkway began nearly 30 years ago in 1995.

The west gate near St. Martins opened to the public in August 1998, showcasing the first 10 kilometres.

Crews spent the next two decades completing the parkway from gate to gate, which was completed in 2018.

The connector road to Sussex Corner opened in 2020, followed by the Alma connector road in 2021.

The 2,529-hectare parkway includes more than 35 kilometres of hiking and biking trails for visitors to enjoy.

A volunteer board known as the Fundy Trail Development Authority has operated the park since its inception.

But in June, the provincial government announced it would assume operation and management by the end of the year.

Tourism Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace said there was always a clause in the agreement that the park could be handed over to the province to operate.

“This has been a conversation we’ve been having with the Fundy Trail Development Authority for a while now,” Scott-Wallace said in an interview at the time.

“It’s come to a time and place for Parks NB, who are experts in parks, to take the reins and move it to the next level.”

Scott-Wallace said her department will review operations at the park over the coming months and look at possible service enhancements.