Released on January 7, 2014
Saskatchewan provincial parks are gearing up for another great year. Last year was a record-setting year for attendance and planning is underway to ensure continued success in 2014.
“Saskatchewan provincial parks are premiere tourism destinations in Saskatchewan and we continue to see more visitors than ever before,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty said. “We have also been working hard to improve our visitors’ park experience. Since 2007, many parks have received upgrades and more are planned for this coming year.”
In order to continue to provide a high level of service to an increasing number of visitors, several fees have increased. Changes will affect nightly and seasonal camping rates. Small adjustments to swimming pool entry and swimming lesson fees have also been made.
- Nightly – electric – from $22 to $27
- Nightly - full service – from $26 to $35
- Nightly - non-electric – remains unchanged at $17
- Seasonal - electric – from $1,500 to $1,900
- Seasonal – non electric – from $760 to $950
- Swimming lessons – from $25 to $35
Costs to operate the provincial parks have increased 42 per cent since 2007 and this represents the first fee adjustment since the 2009 camping season. Park user fees cover less than 60 per cent of operating costs. Saskatchewan’s nightly camping fee remains lower than Alberta and British Columbia and equal to Manitoba.
The 2014 summer camping season will mark the third year that nightly campers will be able to book sites online, using SaskParks’ Reserve-A-Site system or through the reservation call centre. The system has been very successful, with more than 60,000 bookings in each of the last two camping seasons. The online system will open March 3, 2014, with specific park reservation opening dates staggered throughout the week. Check out www.saskparks.net for details.
Applications for seasonal camping are now available online at www.saskparks.net. Seasonal camping offers the opportunity to secure a campsite from May to September.
This very popular program is available at 21 provincial parks. Sites are allocated by a lottery system. The deadline for applications for a seasonal site is Thursday, January 30, 2014. Seasonal sites will be awarded on Monday, February 3, 2014.
Government has invested $44 million over the last five years to improve Saskatchewan’s provincial parks, including more than $7 million on electrification of nearly 1,400 campsites since 2007. The government is dedicated to improving Saskatchewan’s provincial parks by investing an additional $10 million over four years, over and above the previously-enhanced provincial parks capital budget to develop two new campgrounds, enhance shower and bathroom facilities, create more electrified sites and other infrastructure improvements.
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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