Public consultations wrap for new, full-service provincial park

The second phase of public consultations for the first new full-service provincial park in 40 years wraps up on Saturday.

Last year, the Ontario government announced it would be transforming Bigwind Lake Provincial Park, east of Bracebridge, Ont., into an operational campground. At the time, it released few details on the plans but said the existing site would undergo upgrades to offer overnight and electrified campgrounds, back country camping and recreational activities including cross-country skiing, canoeing and hiking.

The province released a first look at its proposal back in March, which included a potential boundary expansion and integrated trail network.

The province is expected to add 250 campsites at the park and up to 25 roofed accommodations, along with washrooms, showers, as well as dishwashing and laundry facilities.

A maximum of 25 back country sites are also in the plans.

"I can say from the conversations I am having with folks in town, they're excited about the opportunity," said Rick Maloney, mayor of Bracebridge.

"Many see the opportunity of operationalizing this park, bringing some structure around it, will allow greater access to it. Right now the access is rather limited."

According to the preliminary plans, the park will include an accessible trail and several walking trails throughout the campgrounds.

There will also be opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sport fishing.

The province said, based on estimated visitation, it expects to bring in roughly $16 million each year to Bracebridge and its surrounding areas once the revamped park opens.

While the park is about a half-hour east of Bracebridge, Maloney still expects to see would-be campers stop by the town. "You'll soon find out you want to take an excursion, you want to get the ice cream cone, catch a movie in town or maybe you need to get some supplies," he said, adding the town is working closely with the province throughout the process.

Lindsay Cormier, store manager at Algonquin Outfitters, hopes the park puts Bracebridge on the map for nature lovers. "A lot of the time we see customers bypass Bracebridge when they head into Algonquin Park, so this is our opportunity to capture some more of that back country business," she said.

"We're very water sports heavy and very cottage focused, so it would be really great to see some different customers pop into our store."

Corina Brdar, conservation policy and planning manager at Ontario Nature, says the organization is always happy to see more people have the chance to get out into nature, but they're disappointed to see the amount of infrastructure being proposed on undeveloped land.