Environment and Conservation
October 2, 2009

Numbers of Campers Up in the 2009 Provincial Parks Camping Season

Provincial camping parks experienced a marked increase in occupancy rates for the 2009 camping season, with the number of registered camper nights up by 14.3 per cent over the 2008 season.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited our provincial parks this summer, and I trust they had an enjoyable stay,� said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. �With the enhancement of services in provincial parks, combined with the For the Love of NL resident marketing campaign introduced by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, we have noticed significant growth in provincial park occupancies this season.�

All provincial park campgrounds and day use parks are now closed for the 2009 season. They are Barachois Pond, Blow Me Down, Butter Pot, Dildo Run, Frenchman�s Cove, J.T. Cheeseman, La Manche, Lockston Path, Notre Dame, Pinware River, Pistolet Bay, Sandbanks and Sir Richard Squires Memorial parks. Day use areas are: Arches, Cataracts, Codroy Valley, Chance Cove, Dungeon, Deadman�s Bay and Gooseberry Cove. While services that are available during the camping season are not available now that the season is closed, access to provincial parks and reserves is permitted year-round.

The minister added that additional improvements will be made in provincial parks next year as the four-year, $4 million Parks Renewal Strategy continues to be rolled out.

�In 2010, we will introduce campsites with electrical services in five provincial parks, namely Dildo Run, Frenchman�s Cove, J.T. Cheeseman, La Manche and Notre Dame,� said Minister Johnson. �This is another investment that demonstrates we are committed to providing the quality camping experience that the traveling public demands.�

The guided interpretive tours at Burnt Cape and Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve have concluded for the season as of today, and tours at Cape St. Mary�s Ecological Reserve will conclude on October 4.
�I encourage everyone to enjoy our natural surroundings all year, as these protected spaces are a public resource,� said Minister Johnson. �We respectfully ask our visitors to observe the regulations that preserve these special places."

Newfoundland and Labrador�s system of provincial parks and natural areas consists of a total of 33 provincial parks, 13 camping parks, seven day use parks, the T�Railway Provincial Park, 11 park reserves, one waterway provincial park and 20 natural areas, including two wilderness reserves and 18 ecological reserves. These areas protect significant natural features of the province while also providing outdoor recreation, education and research opportunities.

For more information about provincial parks, wilderness and ecological reserves, please call the Parks and Natural Areas Division at 709-635-4520 or visit www.env.gov.nl.ca/parks

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Media contact:
Melony O�Neill
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca