A proposal to add more than 200 campsites in Kananaskis country and upgrade several recreational facilities has been approved by the province.
Feedback from a consultation process has seen changes to the plan for redevelopment of Canoe Meadows, which is expected to be the first project undertaken.
“What we had out for public comment was the consultation on the facility redevelopment plan and now government has approved it to go ahead,” said spokesperson Anne Douglas with Tourism, Parks and Recreation. “The approved plan is a conceptual design and is just the first stage of the process.”
Work still to be done includes ongoing environmental assessment and engineering work before final approval and construction.
Douglas said that includes a one-year wildlife tracking study to determine habitat use and wildlife movement to evaluate how development will affect those patterns and the potential for human wildlife conflict.
“That will be incorporated into the final design,” she said.
Detailed design work will also go ahead with proposed changes to the Canoe Meadows location due to feedback.
That feedback saw additions of a shower building with change rooms, additional walk-in tenting sites, a pedestrian-friendly paved sidewalk system with marked crosswalks, drop-off zones and bike cages.
Douglas said the province will also consider opportunities for the public sector to become involved in the operation, construction or both at each facility.
In addition to Canoe Meadows, Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre, Barrier Dam and Widowmaker will also see upgrades and expansion.
The locations along Highway 40 in the provincial park were identified in the 2002 Bow Valley Protected Areas Management Plan as being appropriate for expansion.
In total, 234 new campsites are being proposed in addition to the 2,500 sites already in Kananaskis.
At Canoe Meadows there are 21 camping sites proposed, along with a training and meeting centre with 24 parking stalls to provide a year-round meeting facility, change rooms, boat storage and a view of the kayak course.
The main parking area just off the highway would include an additional 124 parking stalls, 18 large unit angle parking stalls, four bus bays and 17 truck and trailer pull-through parking stalls.
Alberta Whitewater Association has a small facility currently on site and constructed a permanent gate system for a kayaking slalom course on the Lower Kananaskis River adjacent to the site.
Barrier Lake visitor information centre currently has no camping facilities but is proposed to have 79 sites in addition to expanded parking.
