Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Whistlers Campground is scheduled to reopen July 12 as Parks Canada nears the completion of its $60-million federal infrastructure investment project.
With close to 800 campsites, the campground will feature a new registration centre, 18 new combined washroom and shower facilities, improved campsites and restored roads.
“Throughout the pandemic, Albertans and all Canadians, have reconnected and rediscovered nature,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, the federal minister responsible for Parks Canada, in a June 18 news release.
“These substantial investments our Government has made in Whistlers Campground in Jasper National Park will ensure this iconic national park continues to offer safe and breathtaking experiences to Albertans and visitors from all around the globe for decades to come.”
The project aimed to modernize Parks Canada’s largest campground, which has not had significant upgrades since being built in the 1960s.
The new registration centre will have three all-gender accessible washrooms and six service desks, with information displays to be added for 2022.
Improvements to the campsites include new picnic tables and fire pits.
Because of the new combined washroom and shower facilities, campers won’t have to walk more than 250 metres to use a washroom or shower.
The wider roads can now accommodate two-way RV traffic, and a separate entrance road has been added for guests who have already registered.
Underground services have been replaced – including water, sewer and electrical systems – while many existing electrical campsites have been upgraded to 50-amp service.
Parks Canada says these improvements are based on camper feedback.
More than half the campsites will be ready for campers upon opening, with the majority of sites ready the following week.
Parks Canada has also removed a significant number of dead and dying trees impacted by mountain pine beetle.
“In place of the removed trees, young saplings will flourish with the space and sunshine they now have,” Parks Canada stated in a news release.
“But trees grow slowly. It will take many years for these saplings to gain height. In the meantime, many campsites in Whistlers now have more sun and greater mountain views than before.”
As well, reseeding is occurring where the work on underground services has disturbed the ground, but Parks Canada is cautioning that it will take time for natural grasses and vegetation to grow this summer.
Parks Canada will continue to work throughout 2021 and over the winter months to naturalize areas in the campground impacted by construction, including landscaping.
Once all the work is completed, Parks Canada will host a grand official opening celebration in spring 2022.
“The understanding and patience of visitors and the local community has been appreciated during the construction of Whistlers Campground, and now as Parks Canada works with new buildings and new systems upon its opening,” Parks Canada added.
This work was part of $3 billion invested by the Government of Canada over five years to support Parks Canada’s infrastructure upgrades.
Reservations for camping in Whistlers Campground will open June 24 at 8 a.m. online at www.reservation.pc.gc.ca or by phone at 1-888-737-3783.
A queuing system will be used to accommodate the maximum number of users for the online reservation service.
