On April 30, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) announced that a campground has been approved for development in Wycliffe Regional Park.
The original post on Facebook stated that RDEK staff has, for the past few years, “worked with consultants and contractors to identify the need and feasibility for additional infrastructure and amenities at Wycliffe Regional Park. Reports were generated and presented to the RDEK Board of Directors of which development of a campground was recommended and approved.”
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Wycliffe is one of the RDEK’s largest regional amenities — a 164-hectare park that features amenities such as hiking and biking trails, horseshoe pits, picnic areas and a disc golf course — rated third best in Canada.
The development plan was outlined in a May 10 press release and expanded upon on the following page that the RDEK said they created to “help keep the public aware and informed.” You can find the page here: engage.rdek.bc.ca/wycliffeparkcampground
The page will be updated regularly and includes a timeline of the project. Construction is expected to begin summer 2024 and the campground opened in late 2024 or spring 2025.
The RDEK said that development of a seasonal campground has been in the works for nearly four years and was dependent upon grant funding, which came through by way of a $518,223 grant from the provincial government’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program’s Economic Development funding stream. This was announced on April 20, 2024.
Once developed, the campground will consist of 10 sites for tents or smaller trailers in a treed section of the park’s eastern side and 10 pull-through sites in an existing hay field. These will be open from May to September annually.
“There will be no impacts to existing amenities with the addition of these seasonal campsites, and our goal is to increase public access to enjoy the beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities within the park and surrounding area,” said Jamie Davies, RDEK Recreation and Control Services Supervisor.
Steve Reedyk, president of the Cranbrook Disc Golf Club, said:
“I think it will be good in the end, more park usage is good for all things in the park. They contacted us to let us know, and included us in the forest floor management that was going to take place.”
Reedyk added that he was able to see where the campsites will be as well as a basic layout and said that he feels it will be, “beneficial to the events [the club] hosts out there for the participants to have a camping option.”
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The RDEK issued a Request for Proposal for a contractor to oversee the project development that closed on May 8. The contract is expected to be awarded by the RDEK’s board this summer, at which point they said a more detailed timeline of the project and its expected opening date will be available.
The initial post from the RDEK on Facebook garnered nearly unanimously negative comments from residents. Some expressed that they don’t want there to be a campground in the park that is well loved by locals, while others wondered whether the public was asked for input on the project.
Davies explained the RDEK had received periodic inquiries and requests for additional camping opportunities from the public and that this project was an opportunity.
“As the project will not have impacts on the existing park amenities or its use, there was no other formal consultation process,” Davies told the Bulletin. “However, keeping the public informed of the project now that it has received funding to proceed is a key priority, which is why we have developed the project page.”
Davies encourages residents to review the project page and contact the RDEK directly with questions or concerns going forward.
“We are excited to offer modest camping options for locals and tourists who want to stay and enjoy the park and the region,” Davies said. “At 164 hectares the park has many areas that are underutilized.”
He added that this project will include upgrades to the roads, improving the year-round access to the park and that camping fees will generate revenue, which will offset current park operational and maintenance costs, as well as the anticipated costs to operate and maintain the campground.
In addition to the project page linked above, you can also contact Davies for further information at jdavies@rdek.bc.ca or 250-489-2791
