Expanding park

Sandbanks unveils plans to develop new RV camping facility

Ontario Parks is proposing to develop a new RV-only park at Sandbanks provincial park. Engineering consultant Mark Routhier, speaking for park officials, outlined plans to develop a new, fully-serviced campsite across from the Dunes beach entrance to the park. The plans call for the creation of 75 RV sites, a new gatehouse, some additional parking and the development of a roundabout facilitating the flow of traffic in and out of three park access points—trails access, Dunes beach and the new RV park.

The project will be subject to an environmental assessment. Routhier acknowledged that the location comprises habitat favoured by threatened species including the bobolink and meadowlark. He said mitigation measures would be proposed to offset any impact.

Some councillors expressed the hope this project might stimulate Ontario Parks to address issues with the roadway farther south and west of the proposed RV park. Others figured this might be a good time to extract better terms from Ontario Parks for the costs of roads, bridges and other infrastructure used by 600,000 visitors to the park each summer.

“The province is very good at taking money from this community,” suggested Councillor Terry Shortt. “Maybe this is our opportunity to get something back?”

Routhier explained that both the improvement of the nearby roads and the fiscal arrangements between the province and the County were beyond the scope of the project.

No councillor asked why it was being done or why it was happening now.

Parks officials told the Times the work has been in the in plan developed for the park for more than 20 years. The reason for doing it now is simply because the money is available to do it.

Routhier had earlier observed that the park is at capacity throughout the season.

Councillor Janice Maynard wanted to know what the impact might be on private RV campsite operators.

Routhier explained that these businesses would have the opportunity to provide their input in the environmental assessment stage of the development.