More families will soon be able to enjoy the province’s most popular park thanks to priority funding for capital upgrades at Birds Hill Provincial Park. This announcement was made by Family Services and Labour Minister Jennifer Howard, acting minister of conservation and water stewardship.
“We’re making these upgrades a priority to benefit park visitors as well as people attending the Winnipeg Folk Festival,” said Howard, on behalf of Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh. “Some of this work is already underway and is a direct benefit to the festival’s Staging the Future Capital Campaign.”
The priority funding is part of the province’s $22-million investment over the next five years at Birds Hill Park. More than $650,000 will be invested in capital upgrades to the park over the next two years, said Howard, including:
• electrical and lighting improvements to Group Use Area 2 and the festival site,
• water supply and path improvements to Group Use Area 2,
• the installation of shade structures, and
• tree planting throughout the folk festival site.
The minister noted this work also builds on new investments in the park including a new shower building in the campground. Development plans over the next eight years will address some of the areas of heaviest demand on the park including:
• expanding the campground to include approximately 100 new, fully serviced campsites, modern washrooms and new play areas;
• expanding the existing lake and beach area to better accommodate visitors;
• expanding and improving beach amenities such as new concessions and play areas, new beach volleyball and tennis courts, additional picnic areas, pathway connections and beach washrooms;
• constructing a new visitor centre to welcome people to the park and introduce the recreational and educational opportunities within the park and the Manitoba provincial park system; and
• upgrading roadways, entrance gates and buildings.
The upgrades are also part of Manitoba’s green plan, TomorrowNow, which includes commitments for creating new parks and continuing to make historic investments in improving park amenities. More information on TomorrowNow is available online.
Every year, an estimated 730,000 people visit Birds Hill Park, making it the busiest provincial park in Manitoba. More information on Birds Hill Provincial Park is available online.
