Provincial parks are set for another busy spring and summer in Saskatchewan. (file/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW and meadowlakeNOW Staff

Park season

Provincial parks getting ready for busy spring

May 9, 2022 | 12:22 PM

Just over a week away from provincial parks opening up across Saskatchewan, local staff are working hard on the finishing touches for patrons.

After a surge in campers during the pandemic, seasonal sites continue to vanish within minutes and bookings for other spots are in demand as well. Battlefords Provincial Park Manager Angie Carver said it’s going to be another busy start.

“All seasonal sites have gone quickly, this year wasn’t any different,” she said. “We’re getting a lot of people bookings sites available in 2023 as well.

“We’ve got as many boots on the ground as we can to get things open on time. As long as Mother Nature cooperates, we’re good.”

(Facebook/SaskParks/Ministry of Parks, Culture & Sport)

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May 19 is opening day for the Battlefords park, which will feature a new service centre and improvements to features like their disc golf courses and the dog park installed last year. Carver said they haven’t quite reached the finish line on the centre and other areas, which means a busy week and a half.

“The barrier fences were just taken off the other day, so we haven’t had the grand reveal yet,” she said. “We’re just going to try and improve on the areas we’ve got and keep them well maintained.”

Three group sites were also updated to become electrified.

Carver noted that last year remained busy all season, even with a fire ban for virtually all of summer.

“We were able to use charcoal briquettes and propane fire pits, so people were still out here camping,” she said.

And as much as people are rushing to book spots, even into 2023, Carver said there’s always changes to capacity depending on the weekend.

“They’re booking up fast, but I don’t want to put out a message that we’re completely booked, there’s always room available.”

Meadow Lake

Further to the north, there’s similar enthusiasm for the spring and summer months.

Trevor Finlay, Park Manager at Meadow Lake Provincial Park, told meadowlakeNOW that early bookings are also comparable to 2021.

All our sites are very busy again this year,” he said. “That’s what the park is here for and we want people to come enjoy it.”

“Last year was one of the busiest on record for Meadow Lake Provincial Park and I think this year’s going to be on the same level.”

Part of that optimism comes from their own upgrades and additions in the park. Finlay said there’s new infrastructure, including better water service and electrical upgrades and they are opening up third loop at Murray Doell, an area affected by the 2019 tornado. This season it’s fully open.

A before and after of the Murray Doell area in Meadow Lake Provincial Park.(Facebook/SaskParks/Ministry of Parks, Culture & Sport)

The staff have worked really hard to make it an attractive campground again, although it does look different than it did before,” Finlay said. “Now it has lake views instead of mature trees.”

Meadow Lake is also getting an inflatable water park in the Greig Lake area, which staff are hoping to have operational this summer.

Anyone looking to book campsites at a provincial park can do so at the Saskatchewan Parks website.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW