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June 20, 1997
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Remainder of Parks Set to Open for Season

Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that privatization arrangements have been concluded for three more parks that are set to open within the next week namely, Flatwater Pond, David Smallwood, and Windmill Bight. Of the 21 parks offered for privatization in February of 1997, 17 have already successfully been released to new operators.

Unlike the other 17 privatized parks, these three parks have a temporary operating licence in place for the 1997 season. Government will be revisiting these arrangements in the fall of this year to secure a long-term operator for each of the parks. This option will allow the parks to remain open for our Cabot 500 Celebrations year. It is Government's intention to secure the best-possible option for each of the three parks for the long term.

The three new privatized parks are located in various parts of the Island. They are listed below with the number of available campsites identified in parentheses.

• Flatwater Pond (25) - Opening Friday, June 20
  Operator: Leonard Downey, Baie Verte

  David Smallwood (27) - Opening Saturday, June 21
  Operator: Town of Gambo

  Windmill Bight (29) - Opening Friday, June 27
  Operator: Town of Lumsden

"This privatization process has proven to be a highly successful initiative for everyone involved," Ms. Kelly said. "These parks are providing excellent rural business opportunities and are offering the camping public a wider variety of new and improved services."

As the privatization process did not result in an acceptable proposal for Duley Lake park in Labrador West, government will assume responsibility for operating the park for this summer. This is the final season that government will run the park and a new effort to find a private operator will be launched this fall.

"Government is confident that an appropriate private operator will come forward to operate the park," Perry Canning MHA for Labrador West said. "This park is important to Labrador as it serves the recreational and camping needs of the resident and non-resident users in this region. Duley Lake is also important because it the province's only park on our land-link to North America."

All of the 13 parks and seven natural and scenic attractions within the provincial system have already opened for the season.

Ms. Kelly would like to wish all campers and tourists a safe and enjoyable Cabot 500th Anniversary summer. She reminds all park users to protect the environment and clean up their camping or picnic site before leaving the park.

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