Burns Lake council has decided to include improvements to the municipal campground in the village’s 2017 budget.
According to village staff, the campground requires not only upgrades but also the reconfiguration of some of the campsites to allow for more camping spots and to provide better access to the lower portion along the lakeshore.
The campground area currently has eight designated camping spots of which five can be used by motor homes or trailers. Village staff says some of the access is “poorly designed,” where if one spot is taken, the further spots cannot be accessed.
Speaking from her experience as the former manager of the Burns Lake and District Chamber of Commence and Visitor Centre, councillor Susan Schienbein said local businesses are generally supportive of the municipal campground since users tend to shop on local stores and spend money on local pubs.
“I think this is a great idea [to revitalize the campground],” said Schienbein.
The scope of work will include increasing access for motor homes and trailers beside the lakeshore. It will also include adding fire pits, levelling and relocating some of the existing fire pits, adding picnic tables and planting trees. In addition, the project includes the removal of scrub and dying dangerous trees, the relocation of the firewood storage area, as well as the construction of a new sign.
The total cost of the project is expected to be $11,500.
According to village staff, the Burns Lake RCMP have expressed their intention to increase foot patrols and schedule visits to the campground throughout the summer.
Village staff also recommended incorporating the campground and Radley Beach projects into the same scope of work to minimize disruption to the area and to possibly save funds. Council had decided to revitalize Radley Beach earlier this year.
The beach area was last refurbished in the fall of 2011 with the addition of new sand; however, over the past few years the beach has become overgrown with weeds, and the sand needs to be replenished. Geese are also an ongoing problem.
The Radley Beach revitalization project will include partial removal of the top sand layer with installation of new sand, which will cost between $8000 to $12,000. The village will also purchase two additional docks for the area, which will cost $7500. In addition, the village has applied for the ‘Tree Canada’ grant and, if successful, crews will plant fruit trees near the beach area.