August 30, 1996
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Select provincial parks to remain open for fall Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that select provincial parks and the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve will remain open until October 1, 1996 and October 7, 1996 respectively.

"These sites will remain open to facilitate resident and non- resident tourists who would like to travel throughout the province in the fall months," Ms. Kelly said. "Provincial parks are areas where visitors can celebrate this province's natural heritage."

Parks remaining open this fall include: Butter Pot; Frenchman's Cove; Dildo Run; Jack's Pond; J.T. Cheeseman; Fitzgerald's Pond; Sandbanks; Beothuck; Pistolet Bay; Barachois Pond; Chance Cove and Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve. All other parks will close on September 3 immediately following the Labour Day weekend. Lockston Path Provincial Park, which would usually remain open during the fall season, will close this fall due to construction in the park.

Staff at Cape St. Mary's, Barachois Pond, J.T. Cheeseman, and Butter Pot Provincial Parks will provide guided nature walks and environmental/educational activities during the extended season. Guided tours are also available at the Logging Exhibit in Beothuck Park.

"I urge all park users to cooperate with park staff to ensure that the last long weekend of 1996 is both a safe and enjoyable experience," the minister said. "Our parks' staff are working in consultation with the RCMP to deal with unacceptable parks' users." The minister said that rowdiness and illegal consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be tolerated and that any persons negating these rules will be asked to vacate the park and could be subject to legal action.

Regulations include: permitting only one unit per campsite; a maximum of four persons per campsite (except for families); no visitors after 9 p.m.; registration of all visitors to the campground; and persons less than 19 years-of-age to be accompanied by an adult in order to occupy a campsite in the evening.

"I congratulate all parks' staff for providing clean facilities and courteous service to the public during the summer camping season," Ms. Kelly said. "I urge everyone to respect the environment by leaving campsites clean."

Contact: Laura Cochrane, Director of Communications, (709) 729- 0928.