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May 30, 2008
Provincial Parks & Recreation Areas Affected by Flooding
in Southwestern Alberta
Recent heavy rain in southwestern Alberta has affected the following sites:
Kananaskis Country:
North Fork Provincial Recreation Area
- Sites 16-21 closed due to flood damage.
Alberta Parks Campsite Reservation Service Update
June 2008
The Alberta Parks campsite reservation service has been unusually busy since reservations began on May 1st. Staff process calls as quickly as possible but callers may still be greeted with busy signals occasionally over the course of the summer.
The department is currently planning a new online reservation service to make it easier for visitors to reserve campsites in provincial parks and recreation areas. In the future, campers will be able to call or go online to reserve their campsite.
There are a number of complex issues that need to be addressed before online reservations will be available (e.g. not all of our sites have Internet connections); however, we hope to pilot online reservations at select sites as early as spring 2009.
William A.Switzer Provincial Park Construction Notice
Alberta Tourism, Parks Recreation and Culture began a major upgrade to Wm. A. Switzer Provincial Park this spring. Work is ongoing with an expected completion date of 2009.
Currently, the Beaver Ranch group use area is the only area that remains closed; all other areas are open.
Please be advised that the Gregg lake campground will be closed for the 2008 camping season. All other camping and day use areas in the park will remain open.
To date upgrades include:
- refurbishing the Jarvis lake and Cache lake campgrounds (expanded campsites, new gravel, picnic tables and stoves);
- road and shoreline improvements to Jarvis Day use;
- expanding the Beaver Ranch group camp
- resurfacing the Kelley's bathtub trail;
Upgrades for 2008 will include:
- replacing the water system at Gregg Lake Campground
- refurbishing the Gregg lake campsites
- building a group camping area at Gregg Lake
- building a new connector trail from Jarvis lake to Gregg lake
- building a new amphitheatre at Gregg lake and...
- new signage throughout the park
For updates on current and future closures or for further information please contact the Kelley's Bathtub Visitor Centre @ 780-865-5600.
Miquelon Lake Provincial Park Construction Update
Miquelon Lake Provincial Park construction work will continue into 2008. The park will be open year-round; however, various locations throughout the park will remain closed to the public. Loop 'A' campground will be open to campers and visitors can use the day use, beach and trail areas. Access to group use areas is limited due to upgrading. Construction signs will be posted in the park to ensure public safety. Please comply with all notices & directions.
Improvements to the park include:
- new park entrance booth
- new park administration building (from which visitor information & other services will be provided)
- campground refurbishing, including improved campsites, new gravel, and new picnic tables and stoves
- construction of new and retrofitting of existing washroom/shower buildings
- improvements to the park’s day use area, including constructing a large new washroom building, retrofitting the existing washroom building and upgrading the day use parking area
- improvements to the park’s group use areas, including constructing new shelters and washrooms, and creating two-way access to the park’s group campgrounds
- re-paving asphalt trails throughout the park
Other day use, camping and group use facilities to consider visiting in central Alberta include:
- Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, newly upgraded and located 60 km west of Edmonton just off Hwy. 16A.
- Pembina River Provincial Park, located 105 km west of Edmonton, just off Hwy. 16.
- Pigeon Lake Provincial Park, 105 km southwest of Edmonton, off Secondary Hwy. 771.
- Cross Lake Provincial Park, 150 km north of Edmonton off Hwy. 44.
- Garner Lake Provincial Park, 180 km northeast of Edmonton off Hwy. 28.
- Vermilion Provincial Park, 190 km east of Edmonton just north of Hwy. 16.
- Whitney Lakes Provincial Park, 275 km east of Edmonton on Secondary Hwy. 646.
- Cold Lake Provincial Park, located 280 km northeast of Edmonton, just 3 km northeast of the Town of Cold Lake off Hwy. 28.
English Bay Provincial Recreation Area Construction Update
English Bay Provincial Recreation Area will remain closed to the public until 2009 so that archaeological research can be carried out and so that upgrading and construction projects begun in 2006 can be completed.
Improvements to the recreation area include:
- campground redesign & expansion
- addition of several power sites
- construction of new trails
- installation of new water wells
- re-routing of access road
- construction of new day use area
- construction of new maintenance compound
Fish Creek Provincial Park
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