Manitoba is spending $1.1 million to improve accessibility to provincial parks

The Manitoba government says it will spend $1.1 million from its parks endowment fund to improve accessibility at several provincial parks.

“Manitobans love and cherish our provincial parks… [They] enjoy every minute they can in all of our provincial parks, » Environment, Climate and Parks Minister Jeff Wharton said Friday during a news conference at Birds Hill Provincial Park, which will see many accessibility improvements.

Projects at Birds Hill will include paving the pathway to the West Beach washrooms and paving the Bur Oak parking lot.

Whiteshell Provincial Park will also see improvements, with eight new accessible campsites and upgrades to 17 existing sites. Button door openers will be added to public buildings in the park, such as camp offices, restrooms and showers.

Grand Beach Provincial Park will have three new accessible campsites.

At Nopiming Provincial Park, picnic tables, fire pits and boat launches will be upgraded, while a new observation telescope, walkway maintenance and a new amphitheater will arrive at Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park.

Several yurts in various locations across the province will also get upgrades.

Wharton says the projects were determined, in part, by feedback the province received from public engagement.

The results of the EngageMB survey, which was conducted earlier this year, were released on Friday. He said improving trails, restoring habitat and upgrading campgrounds and recreation facilities were top priorities for Manitobans, according to the province.

In total, the province received 2,232 survey responses.