**** Lands & Forestry Media Release
Provincial parks will begin opening Friday, May 17, for a season filled with camping, hiking, swimming and exploring nature.
Several camping and day-use parks will be open in time for the Victoria Day weekend and the rest will open in early June.
Visitors can check the provincial parks website for opening dates and a list of events happening at each location.
Reservations for camping sites can be made by calling 1-888-544-3434 or going online to the parks website, http://parks.novascotia.ca .
Provincial campgrounds continue to grow in popularity. The 2018 season saw 82,422 camper nights booked, an increase of five per cent over the previous year. Bookings have gone up about 30 per cent since 2014.
Government is making more than $1 million in upgrades to park system facilities. Several infrastructure projects were completed or are in progress this year:
— new water and electrical services at Battery Provincial Park
— improvements to comfort stations and water services at Thomas Raddall Provincial Park
— improvements to beach access at Blomidon Provincial Park
— site improvements to Lawrencetown Beach
— installation of accessible vault toilet at Rainbow Haven Beach
— a gender-neutral comfort station and washroom facilities with accessible sinks, toilets and showers are among recent upgrades to Valleyview Provincial Park in Bridgetown that will improve accessibility
“These improvements will increase the comfort and safety of our visitors so everyone can enjoy a camping experience that is inclusive and accessible to all,” said Mr. Rankin. “We will continue making investments so our parks, beaches and campgrounds are more accessible to Nova Scotians. I encourage everyone to visit a park this season and create lasting memories with friends and family.”
Alcohol and cannabis will not be permitted at camping parks from opening day until Tuesday, July 2. After this time, alcohol and smoking, including cannabis, are permitted on rented campsites only. Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use are not permitted in day-use parks.
Camping parks opening Friday, May 17:
— Blomidon, Canning, Kings Co.
— Cape Chignecto, Advocate Harbour, Cumberland Co.
— Ellenwood Lake, Deerfield, Yarmouth Co.
— Graves Island, East Chester, Lunenburg Co.
— Porters Lake, Porters Lake, Halifax Regional Municipality
— Rissers Beach, Petite Riviere, Lunenburg Co.
— Thomas Raddall, Port Joli, Queens Co.
Camping parks opening Friday, May 31:
— Mira River, Albert Bridge, Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Camping parks opening Friday, June 7:
— Amherst Shore, Amherst Shore, Cumberland Co.
— Battery, St. Peter’s, Richmond Co.
— Boylston, Boylston, Guysborough Co.
— Caribou-Munroes Island, Caribou, Pictou Co.
— Dollar Lake, Wyses Corner, Halifax Regional Municipality
— Five Islands, Five Islands, Colchester Co.
— Laurie, Grand Lake, Halifax Regional Municipality
— Salsman, Country Harbour, Guysborough Co.
— Smileys, Brooklyn, Hants Co.
— The Islands, Shelburne, Shelburne Co.
— Valleyview, Bridgetown, Annapolis Co.
— Whycocomagh, Whycocomagh, Inverness Co