Two Saskatchewan provincial parks to receive upgrades

SASKATOON – The summer camping season is quickly coming to an end and the Saskatchewan government already has plans to invest over $800,000 into two provincial park projects.

On Tuesday, the ministry of parks, culture and sport announced upgrades to Pike Lake and Good Spirit Lake provincial parks.

“Saskatchewan’s provincial parks received 3.6 million visits in 2012, a nearly six per cent increase over the previous record of 3.4 million visits received in 2011,” said Minister Kevin Doherty.

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“We want that growth to continue, which is why we will continue investing in parks.”

Pike Lake Provincial Park’s potable water system will have work done to ensure current drinking water standards continue to be met for years to come. The Water Security Agency has noted that the underground storage reservoir has deteriorated.

Saskatoon’s Con-Tech General Contractors Ltd. will complete the project’s first phase, which involves a new pump house building, installation of three water storage tanks and upgrading the distribution system.

Phase one will start in this fall and should be completed in time for the 2014 summer camping season.

At Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park, the existing boat launch does not meet the needs of its aquatic recreationalists and will be expanded.

All existing boat launch slabs will be removed, the turn-around area will be expanded and the shoreline will be armoured. Two new concrete boat launches will also be constructed.

Since 2008, the government says it has invested almost $44 million to improve Saskatchewan’s parks.