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.

Local tourism opportunities

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."

Advocacy group has 'mixed feelings' about proposal

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.

"Our concern is an area that has no development will now have a large road going through the middle of it, crossing through wetlands and going through existing mature forest," she said, adding the parking lots and buildings will also create pollution that will impact the area's wildlife.

"There are species at risk in the area where the development is proposed," she said.

The plan includes a great deal of respect for the environment, said Graydon Smith, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka and the minister of Natural Resources and Forestry,

"We are making sure we get a best of all worlds scenario, where we maintain the environmental integrity of a natural area, while at the same time opening it up for people to visit," he said.

According to the province, the park's integrated trail network will "provide a variety of recreational opportunities and minimize the need for extensive roads and parking areas."

The second phase of public consultations wraps up on May 4th, and an open house for the public is also taking place the same day at the Quality Inn in Bracebridge. 

Ontario Parks says it will be presenting the preliminary management plan, boundary expansion proposal, project details and explaining next step at the open house.

Construction is slated to begin this fall.