Regional parks took a hit in budget

Next week, provincial parks are set to open for business, which means summer activities are just around the corner.

Regional parks are also getting ready to go, but in last week’s budget they had their funding cut by 50 per cent.

The regional parks lost $500,000 this year, taking it from $1.23 million down to $523,000. The funding reduction impacts only the capital projects program.

“It will still help a number of parks with their capital projects,” said Darlene Friesen, executive director of Saskatchewan Regional Parks Association.

Although any reduction in funding is not good, Friesen said the parks will “make do.”

The capital projects program provides funding to regional parks for projects that would help to renew the park and could include a capital infrastructure expansion or equipment like tractors and mowers.

“They are not going to receiving nearly as much as they usually do under this program for each park,” said Friesen.

On average, between 55 to 60 of the approximately 90 regional parks accessed the program.

As part of the program, each park would have to provide 50 per cent of the total cost for the proposed project. The reduced funding means a park may apply to the program every other year to upgrade their campsites.

Some of those upgrades covered by the program include washroom and shower upgrades, equipment or mower upgrades — anything that would be needed to keep the campground operating correctly.

Regional parks differ from provincial parks in they are community-based and volunteer-driven entities, while provincial parks are run by the province, said Friesen.

“So if they haven’t got the people to tend to them and take care of them then they fall into disuse,” she said.

Over the past few years, some parks have closed but not many. She estimated about two regional parks a year have closed over the past few years.

“It’s predominantly rural, very rural, where the population is no longer what it once was and they just don’t have the volunteer base to do it anymore,” said Friesen.

She said the regional parks are scattered throughout the province and are used a lot every year. Detailed information on some of the parks, such as admission fee, amenities, history and size of park is available on the associations website www.saskregionalparks.ca.

“Some of the parks do hire staff, but some of the parks are completely run by the volunteers and they are all different sizes,” said Friesen.

Each park is governed by a volunteer board, which is often appointed by the municipality and because of that no two parks are exactly the same.

Since 2000, funding to regional parks has fluctuated.

Friesen said the cut will have an impact but how much remains to be seen. She encourages people to visit a regional park because each visit provides direct support for the park.