By Sarah Klein
It won’t cost you to enter a provincial park again this year, the province announced Wednesday. That was just one highlight from the information released on the upcoming 2010 park season. In preparation for the warmer weather, the Manitoba government has made improvements to park infrastructure and facilities.
Some of the improvements include:
- 20 new full-service campsites at Rivers Provincial Park campground;
- 65 new campsites, some with electrical connections and others with water and electricity, at Wellman Lake campground in Duck Mountain Provincial Park;
- new shower facilities at Birds Hill, Childs Lake, Nutimik Lake and Wellman Lake; and
- resurfaced bike trails at Birds Hill Provincial Park.
The rate it will cost you to camp has increased slightly from last year. Nightly camping fees increase to $9.45 to $24.15 from the previous range of $8.40 to $22.05. Seasonal rates will increase to $330.75 to $925.58 from the previous rates of $299.25 to $835.28, based on services and the type of site. Despite the increase, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie said Manitoba has the lowest camping rates in the country.
Northern campgrounds, and those at Grand Beach, Lundar and St. Ambroise will open on the May long weekend — a liquor-free weekend at all campgrounds. Most other campgrounds open the week before the May long weekend.
2009 was a record year for the Parks Reservation System, Blaikie also said. 62,043 reservations were made last camping season. Campers can begin making reservations for 2010 beginning April 5 at 7:30 a.m. at ManitobaParks.com, 1-800-214-6497 (toll-free) or 945-6784 in Winnipeg.
