(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Sarah Wallace

Parks Funding

Provincial parks getting million dollar boost thanks to government

Aug 10, 2019 | 12:00 PM

Provincial parks will soon be getting a boost thanks to the provincial government.

As part of an $11 million investment in provincial parks, more than $3.3 million will be invested into facility and infrastructure improvements in northern Saskatchewan.

The improvements are meant to help park visitors enjoy the spaces for years to come as provincial parks are a popular destination for both residents of Saskatchewan and those visiting the province.

This $3.3 million investment will see a number of upgrades done before the 2020 camping season which includes construction of a new visitor reception center at Candle Lake Provincial Park

Byron Davis, executive director of infrastructure and capital planning for the Ministry of Parks said the new visitor center is an investment of about $1.2 million.

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The facility will house park staff, conservation officers and will have an area for visitor reception and information.

“The park has been without an on-site office for several years now, it’s been in some leased space in the town of Candle Lake, but (the new facility) will be a better centralized location where park visitors can get information and interact with the park staff,” Davis said.

He said there’s always ongoing upgrades on things like washrooms, docks and day-use facilities.

Other upgrades this year will include the completion of the water system upgrade at The Battlefords Provincial Park, electrical service expansion at Matheson Campground in Meadow Lake Provincial Park and a major upgrade and expansion to the sewage lagoon at Lac La Ronge Provincial Park.

Last year’s investments into provincial parks saw two new service centers, a boat launch, road improvements and electrical upgrades in Meadow Lake Provincial Park and the first phase of water system upgrades at The Battlefords Provincial Park.

Another big investment last year saw $800,000 in upgrades to the major waste water system at Greenwater Lake Provincial Park.

Davis said those upgrades came after some significant investments in water system improvements at Greenwater over the past couple of years.

“(We’re) really trying to upgrade our infrastructure. A lot of the infrastructure in some provincial parks was aging and in need of upgrades. This will ensure that our water and waste water systems are operating well and are able to serve our park visitors,” he continued.

In all, from 2007 to the end of 2019, more than $116 million in investments have gone into provincial parks. By the end of 2020, that number will increase to more than $127 million.

Last year alone, provincial parks in Saskatchewan saw nearly 4 million visitors.

“The parks in northern Saskatchewan are hidden gems, each offering a unique experience that one may not expect on the prairies,” Parks, Culture, and Sport Minister Gene Makowsky said in a release.

“Enhancements to these parks, including a new visitor reception center, campground infrastructure upgrades and trail development are necessary to continue attracting visitors to our province and providing a place for our residents to enjoy their vacation time.”

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panews@jpbg.ca