Released on July 29, 2014
By this time next year, guests will be able to enjoy a new visitor reception centre at Narrow Hills Provincial Park as well as additional electrified campsites and upgrades in the Lower Fishing Lake Campground.
The existing administration office at Narrow Hills Provincial Park was built in 1975 as a temporary facility. Due to its age, the existing facility is in a significantly deteriorated state and does not meet current accessibility requirements as set out in the Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Regulations. Therefore, the building has been identified as a replacement priority under the park’s capital program.
A public tender was issued for the construction of a new visitor reception centre and Bighorn Construction (2005) Ltd. of Medicine Hat was the successful bidder. The visitor reception centre is scheduled for completion prior to the 2015 park season.
“One of the advantages of our growing province is the ability to invest in our provincial parks,” Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Mark Docherty said. “These investments in Narrow Hills Provincial Park will enhance the experience of our visitors and make this park an even better place to vacation.”
In addition to the new visitor centre, Narrow Hills Provincial Park will receive electrical expansion and upgrading of campsites in the Lower Fishing Lake Campground.
Beginning mid-August, work will get underway to expand electrical service to 52 existing non-electric campsites. Thirty-one existing electrified sites will receive upgrades to support the increased electric needs of large, modern recreational vehicles.
The tender for electrical expansion and upgrading in Narrow Hills Provincial Park was awarded to Mid City Electric (1979) Ltd. of La Ronge.
In 2013, the provincial park system set a record 3.7 million visits. Narrow Hills Provincial Park received 73,666 of those visits.
The 2014-15 Budget has increased funding to provincial parks by 4.6 per cent this year. This includes capital and maintenance spending which will hit record levels with $14.9 million identified for upgrades and new construction projects. Total capital investments in provincial parks have increased 244 per cent in the past seven years, compared to the previous seven year period.
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For more information, contact:
Karen Webb
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7828
Email: karen.webb@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-529-4087