May 17, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Provincial parks open for 1999 season

Charles J. Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that Butter Pot Provincial Park (126 sites); Frenchman's Cove Provincial Park (76 sites); La Manche Provincial Park (69 sites); and Notre Dame Provincial Park (100 sites) will open on Wednesday, May 19, and Barachois Pond Provincial Park (150 sites) will open on Friday, May 21, for the 1999 summer camping season.

"I wish all residents and tourists a safe and enjoyable Victoria Day Weekend. I would invite everyone to visit a provincial park and enjoy such activities as hiking, bicycling on park roads, bird watching, nature photography or simply enjoying the natural environment, this weekend and throughout the summer," said Furey. "I remind all park users to do their part to help protect the natural environment by ensuring that they tidy their campsite or day use area before they vacate the park."

Campsite vacancy and special event information for the province's 13 camping parks, as well as special event information for the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, can be obtained by calling (709) 570-7573, from the St. John's exchange, or, from outside this area by calling 1-800-866-CAMP (2267). This information will be provided Thursday to Saturday from May 20 to September 4, and will be updated twice on Thursday and Friday, and once on Saturday of each week.

Provincial parks previously opened include Chance Cove Provincial Park on March 13, and the interpretation centre at the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, May 1. The remaining 14 provincial parks will open as follows:

• Sandbanks, Squires Memorial, Lockston Path, Pinware River and J. T. Cheeseman - Friday, May 28

• Dildo Run - Friday, June 4

• Blow Me Down and Pistolet Bay, and the six Natural and Scenic Attraction Parks including, The Arches, Cataracts, Codroy Valley, Deadman's Bay, Dungeon and Gooseberry Cove - Friday, June 11

Special regulations will be enforced during the Victoria Day weekend, May 19 - 24. Any violation of park regulations will result in an immediate eviction from the park and charges possibly being laid. See backgrounder for a list of these regulations.

Media contact: Tara Laing, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

BACKGROUNDER
Provincial Parks Regulations and Fee Structures

SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND

In an effort to ensure a safe and enjoyable camping experience for all users, special regulations will be enforced during the Victoria Day weekend (May 19 - 24). Any violation of the following regulations will result in an immediate eviction from the park and charges possibly being laid.

• Only one piece of camping equipment is permitted per campsite.

• Excluding family situations, a maximum of four persons are permitted per campsite.

• Persons must be 19 years of age or older to register for a campsite.

• Visitors to the campground must register at the checkpoint or park office.

• No visitors are permitted in the campground area after 9 p.m.

• Quiet time is from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages is restricted to designated campsites or picnic sites.

• Campsites must be kept clean and tidy. If a site is left dirty and littered, the person to whom it is registered will be charged.

• Campfires must not be left unattended.

• The cutting of trees and bushes is not permitted.

OVERNIGHT CAMPING FEES:

Partially Services Sites

The fee for partially serviced campsites (campsites with access provided to flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities) is $11 per night. Partially serviced campsites are available at Barachois Pond; Blow Me Down; Butter Pot; Dildo Run; Lockston Path; Pistolet Bay and Sandbanks Provincial Parks.

Unserviced campsites

The fee for unserviced campsites (campsites with access provided to pit privies and drinking water taps which are conveniently located throughout the park) is $9 per night. Unserviced campsites are available at J. T. Cheeseman, Frenchman's Cove, La Manche, Pinware River, Notre Dame and Sir Richard Squires Memorial.

Frequent park user fees

Discounted camping fees are again being offered to frequent park users. Park users will receive a 10 per cent discount for a one-week permit, 15 per cent discount for a one-month permit, and 20 per cent discount for a seasonal permit.

Group camping fees

Groups planning to use the group campgrounds located at Barachois Pond, Butter Pot, Lockston Path or Notre Dame Provincial Parks, on either a daily or nightly basis, are advised that a fee of $1 per person per day will be charged. Groups wishing to use the group campgrounds overnight will be charged $2 per person per night. Reservations are required for use of the group camping area and can be made by telephoning the applicable park directly. Barachois Pond (709) 649-0048; Butter Pot (709) 685-1853; Lockston Path (709) 464-3553; and Notre Dame (709) 535-2379.

Day Use Fees

All day users and visitors wishing to enter a provincial park with a vehicle must have a valid daily or seasonal vehicle entry permit. The fees for these permits are $4 per day and $16 for the season. Campers will not be charged a vehicle entry fee for entry into the park in which they are camping.

1999 05 17 5:25 p.m.