New Funding for Provincial Parks

Nova Scotians who camp, hike, picnic, or swim in provincial parks will benefit from upcoming park improvements.

The province is adding $1 million annually to the provincial parks' budget.

"Government listened to people through extensive park consultations during the summer and is guided by the provincial natural resources strategy, The Path We Share," said Becky Kent, MLA for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage, on behalf of Charlie Parker, Minister of Natural Resources. "The province is putting extra, annual funding into our parks to make a better experience for people who use parks and to bring economic growth."

The funding comes from the province's tangible capital asset fund and will be used to build or enhance large scale projects in parks, such as washroom and administration buildings, and to redevelop some camping parks.

It will also help complete redevelopment projects already underway at Five Islands Provincial Park, Colchester County and Mira River Provincial Park, Cape Breton County.

"Increased funding is necessary for our parks because they help protect our natural environment, our tremendous scenery, and our unique flowers, fish and other wildlife," said Jim Cameron, board member of Friends of Taylor Head Provincial Park. "Our parks provide unique experiences for Nova Scotians and for visitors from around the world. They need to be preserved for our future generations."

The annual funding will help the Department of Natural Resources to better plan large park projects over the long term. It means construction work can be better scheduled to minimize effects on visitors' enjoyment of parks.

Nova Scotia has 20 camping parks and 122 day use parks, which include picnic parks and provincial beach parks. Sixty-five per cent of Nova Scotians visit a park at least once per year.

The funding is part of government's Capital Plan. This is the third straight year the province will release the plan before the spring budget. This sends a clear signal of what the province intends to do in the year ahead, and gives the private sector greater opportunity to prepare for projects, creating efficiencies and cost savings for the province.

The province's natural resources strategy, The Path We Share, commits the province to establishing a sustainable park system for the future. The strategy's goals for provincial parks are available at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/strategy/parks/path.asp.

All provincial parks are described at http://www.parks.gov.ns.ca.