Butter Pot Provincial Park, the province�s busiest provincial park, has added 25 new campsites to its campgrounds. The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Environment and Conservation, today officially opened the new campsites during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in the park.

"The total number of campsites now available at Butter Pot is 175 and these extra campsites should help meet the service demand placed on the park by visitors and travellers," said Minister Jackman. "The provincial park system is important to our province and is instrumental in developing and delivering an internationally-competitive outdoor, nature tourism product in the province."

In Budget 2007, the Provincial Government increased its investment in the provincial parks system by $1 million and expanded the parks renewal strategy from a three-year commitment to a four-year, $4-million initiative.

"These funds will be used to improve existing infrastructure and enhance the level of services and amenities available in the provincial parks," said the minister. "As part of the parks renewal strategy, a second full-service comfort station that includes hot and cold running water, showers, flush toilets and a laundromat opened in July at Butter Pot Provincial Park. It is a welcome addition for park users."

The minister noted that the total cost for the new development at Butter Pot was $650,000. As well, other investments under the parks renewal strategy this year included new comfort stations at Sir Richard Squires Memorial Park near Cormack and at Pinware River in the Labrador Straits, at a combined cost of $627,400. J. T. Cheeseman Provincial Park in Port aux Basques had a new dumping station added at a cost of $42,400.

"By the end of this summer, all provincial parks will have comfort stations and dumping stations available," said Minister Jackman. "Continued improvements in the provincial parks will increase usage, provide local employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas, and provide the modern traveller with the services they expect."

Twenty of the new campsites are maximum seven-day reservation sites and may be booked through the online reservation service at www.nlcamping.ca or by calling toll free 1-877-214-CAMP (2267). The remaining five sites are available as drop-in sites.

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Media contact:
Diane Hart
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 685-4401
dianehart@gov.nl.ca