Significant facility improvements and a major expansion of the lake and beach area in the Birds Hill Provincial Park are now complete making the area more accessible than ever before. This announcement was made by Premier Greg Selinger.
“Birds Hill Park is one of our busiest provincial parks, and we know Manitoba families and visitors to our province will enjoy these improvements,” Premier Selinger said. “From expanded beach space to a larger swimming area and improved water quality, this is a park all us can be proud of.”
The improvements are part of Building the Park Province: Manitoba’s Parks Strategy, an eight-year commitment to invest $100 million into park infrastructure by 2020.
The lake and beachfront project involved a number of key improvements:
- removing concrete barriers between the three existing beaches for improved swimmer safety and shoreline accessibility;
- improving walking paths from the east and west parking lots to the lake;
- adding trees, volleyball courts, a playground and new furniture to beautify the park;
- greatly improved water quality through enhancements to the lake bottom including the removal of vegetation; and
- adding 15,000 square metres of area to the lake, increasing the swimming area by 20 per cent.
Beach safety will be enhanced through the addition of two extra beach safety officers during the off-peak season and four more officers on staff during the peak time of July and August. During peak times there will be up to 20 officers on staff, making this the largest beach safety program in the provincial park system.
The premier also added, as part of the continued commitment to the Winnipeg Folk Festival, there are improved amenities such as electrical and lighting upgrades and new shade structures for campers in the festival campground (Group Use 2).
“The Winnipeg Folk Festival has been proud to call Birds Hill Provincial Park home for the entire 42 years it has existed,” said Lynne Skromeda, executive director of the festival. “The lake is an important part of the experience for our festivalgoers, who appreciate being able to have a beautiful fresh lake to swim in with a beach nearby during our weekend in July. Investing in our parks is important for our health, well-being and enjoyment of nature, and of course, crucial to the experience of tens of thousands of people who join us each year at the Folk Festival.”
The premier also announced the province is committing $4.8 million for future projects including improvements to the campground, the west gate, and water and waste-water systems to be completed over the next four years.
“Whether it’s for an annual family sojourn to the Folk Fest, or a quick day trip to enjoy this new beach area, there has never been a better time to come to Birds Hill Provincial Park,” Premier Selinger said. “I am absolutely thrilled to see what has been accomplished at this iconic Manitoba destination and look forward to future enhancements. Our commitment to improving and developing this provincial park will help ensure Manitoba families and tourists alike have a wonderful outdoor experience.”
These improvements support TomorrowNow – Manitoba’s Green Plan, an eight-year plan that supports environmental protection while ensuring a prosperous and environmentally conscious economy.
