Some popular Manitoba Parks are getting a face lift.
Friday, the Province announced it will spend $16.6 million on modernizing several areas in the Whiteshell, 140 kilometres east of Winnipeg.
“Our provincial parks are some of the most affordable and most visited in the country,” said Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh Friday morning. Mackintosh spending the money when the province is facing a huge budget deficit and raising taxes to pay for essential services, saying the improvements are important and people want them.
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At West Hawk Lake construction is completed. The road going through town was repaved, new parking for up to 300 cars, two new boat ramps and the biggest feature the new sidewalks with decorative lighting, trees, benches.
“We never used to have a sidewalk, people would walk on the road,” said Audrey Morrison who has lived at West Hawk for over 30 years, “this is beautiful.”
Businesses in the area say there’s been a huge improvement in the town atmosphere since the changes.
“People are happier,” said Shaun Harbottle who owns Crescent Beach Cottages “before people would visit and they weren’t impressed with the road or beach area.”
Harbottle says tourism has dropped off the last couple years and hopes the improvements bring people back.
Improvements are also being made to the boat launches at McDougal’s Landing, Dorothy and Star Lakes and more road improvements at Falcon Lake South Shore and Big Whiteshell South Shore.
The province says it’ll invest $100 million in park infrastructure by the year 2020.
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