The provincial government announced last week they will be allocating $1.023 million for regional parks for the 2014-15 fiscal year. That means Estevan area’s Woodlawn Regional Park will get about $12,000 of that fund.
“There are 75 regional parks in the province, so there are a lot of recipients,” said Aaron-Lee Soparlo, Woodlawn’s supervisor, who spoke with the Mercury on Nov. 14.
Last year’s funding for Woodlawn was around the $12,000 mark and Soparlo doesn’t expect it will be much more in the next go-around.
Mark Docherty, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister, said the government’s investment in regional parks has amounted to $6.22 million over the past seven years.
The funds are distributed to member parks for capital improvements on a cost-matching basis.
Soparlo said last year’s allocation was mainly used for the purchase and installation of new playpark equipment that was installed near the Boundary Dam entrance.
She said that although Woodlawn now consists of two distinctive locations, the original park just south of the city associated with TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club, and the newer Boundary Dam site that was upgraded to regional park status three years ago, is still considered as one entity by the provincial ministry.
John Froese, president of the Saskatchewan Regional Parks Association said “recent reports indicate a dramatic increase in attendance with travellers experiencing the new and better image of our parks, due largely to the popular grant program. Saskatchewan regional parks are building bigger and better camping and RV facilities. It is when you realize the aggregate amounts of this grant by the government you actually see the tremendous amount of growth and experience within the participating regional parks and for this we are forever grateful.”
Grants are available to member parks to a maximum of $25,000 per park with cost-sharing to a maximum of 50 per cent of project costs.
Soparlo said Woodlawn’s annual general meeting will be scheduled soon, and a new budget and audited financial statement will be readied for the board of directors in early 2015.
After four hectic seasons of first flood recovery, and then major expansions, Woodlawn is ready for a more stabilized situation heading into the new camping year that will begin in May 2015.
The original Woodlawn Regional Park lost over two dozen prime camping spots and heavy damages to infrastructure and rental facilities in the 2011 flood, but has bounced back to the point where 54 seasonal (long term) sites are now available along with 88 short term lots for overnight or weekend visitors.
That is now coupled with the 111 seasonal sites available at their Boundary Dam location a few kilometres south, near the U.S. border. There are also 38 short term sites at Boundary Dam. This means that in total, there are 291 sites ready for trucks, RVs, tents and campers at the two locations.
“Boundary is full service with water/electricity/sewer services. Woodlawn’s original park seasonal lots have electricity/water and sewer and the short term sites have power and water,” Soparlo added.
Additional sewer services are being looked at for Woodlawn’s original park and with an increase of 40 new sites added at Boundary Dam last year, it’s perhaps time to stabilize the situation and plan for the future and some further growth, the park supervisor said. At least that appeared to be the wishes of the board up to this point.
“All seasonal sites were taken up last year. A few were vacant for awhile due to weather issues, as were the short term sites, but all seasonal (long term) lots were snapped up at both locations,” Soparlo said.
A lottery-type draw is underway for some prime locations for next season. Last year the lottery draw was for 22 sites.
The original Woodlawn has the additional features of the golf course right next door, along with the river, two rental halls and picnic grounds. The Boundary Dam location offers dual boat launch docks and ideal fishing conditions on Boundary Dam Reservoir as well as a recently redesigned and refurbished beach.
Both locations have some flat, nearly treeless spots still remaining for future expansion, with only a few infill spots left to be developed within the more mature park areas. Soparlo said the flat land spots are currently being used for overflow parking and any other temporary needs and would have to be enhanced to attract potential campers.
With the RM of Estevan tending to the entrance roads and with all the necessary equipment in place to meet the maintenance needs in both parks, Soparlo said 2015 should prove to be another solid year for regional park activity near the city.
