BC Gov.
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Visitors will soon have more camping opportunities throughout British Columbia with the completion of more than 350 new campsites in BC Parks and forestry recreation sites, in time for the upcoming camping season.
This is the first phase of the 1,900 new campsites announced by Premier Christy Clark in November 2016 as part of the BC Parks Future Strategy, the Province’s commitment to public recreation opportunities. Campsite expansion is occurring in all regions of the province, and the majority will be where demand is greatest – in the Kootenays, Okanagan, the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
The new campsites, which will be available for the 2017 camping season, are:
- Blanket Creek Provincial Park near Revelstoke – 58 sites
- Halfway Hot Springs Rec Site near Nakusp – 20 sites
- Six Mile Bay Rec Site near Mackenzie – 20 sites
- Okanagan Lake South Provincial Park near Summerland – eight sites
- Badger Lake Rec Site near Heffley – 30 sites
- Scuitto Rec Site near Kamloops – 17 sites
- Garibaldi Provincial Park near Squamish – 20 sites
- Chek Canyon Rec Site near Squamish – 32 sites
- Stave West –Sayres Lake Rec Site near Mission – 60 sites (Phase 1)
- Desolation Sound Provincial Park near Powell River – 34 sites
- Rathtrevor Provincial Park near Parksville – 30 sites (Phase 1)
- Goldstream Provincial Park near Victoria – four sites
- Pye Mountain Rec Site near Sayward – 20 sites
- Maple Grove Rec Site near Lake Cowichan – 22 sites
The new campsites are a mix of BC Parks and forestry recreation sites which supports maintaining a range of camping opportunities (rustic and less rustic) in the highest demand areas.
The construction of BC Parks campsites also includes associated infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer expansion, electrical upgrades, outhouse facilities and shower and toilet buildings. New campground developments also incorporate accessible design standards. The recreation site expansion will include associated roads, campsites with picnic tables and fire rings, signage and outhouse facilities.
The majority of the new BC Parks campsites will be available for reservation via the Discover Camping Reservation Service. To reserve your spot, please visit: https://secure.camis.com/DiscoverCamping/Home.aspx. Recreation sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
As part of the BC Parks Future Strategy, the Province is investing up to $22.9 million to add more than 1,900 new campsites over five years. More than 800 of the new sites will be in provincial parks, while more than 1,000 will be in recreation sites. Additional campsites will be announced as expansion continues.
The Province also recently announced a new investment of $35 million over the next three years, as part of the BC Parks Future Strategy. The funding will result in 28 more full-time park rangers, new programs to promote and protect the environment, and $10 million as an initial endowment to the new BC Parks Foundation. This increased budget is also part of the BC Parks Future Strategy.
Originally published here.