DNR Presents Options for Laurie Park’s Planned Redevelopment
Approximately 120 people turned out at the Grand Lake Community Centre on March 2, to view a presentation given by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), regarding the future redevelopment plans proposed for Laurie Park in Grand Lake.
Residents who attended the presentation, were given two options to chose from in order to assist them in making an informed choice about the future redevelopment of the local Provincial Park. The redevelopment of the park is being made possible through a 2.6 million dollar stimulus package from the provincial government. After the presentation, each person who attended was able to vote on the option they preferred.
There were both Common Features and Unique Features to the plans.
Common Features to both Options
Entrance:
- New visitors services are that includes an office/admin building, camping visitor registration, and bypass lanes
- Improved park entrance from Hwy#2
- New Off Season parking lot (15 to 20 cars) in advance of gate at bridge
Campground:
- Campground capacity reduced from 71 small sites to 40-plus upgraded campsites, including walk-in, tenting, small trailer and larger trailer/RV sites
- Central camper’s washroom with flush toilets and showers
- New maintenance yard and wood storage building
- New trailer dumping station for campers
- New service clusters that include privy, water tap and recycling stations
- Seasonal floating dock to be installed at shoreline tenting sites (no boat trailer access to lake will be provided)
- Closure of the campground for the entire 2010 camping season during construction (June 2010 to Sept. 2010)
Day Use:
- Seasonal floating dock to be installed at boat launching area (no boat trailer access to lake will be provided)
- Park programming area with a gathering area and small kiosk/stage for interpretive and educational events
- Shoreline walking path to “Big head” to provide improved accessibility
- Upgrade existing service clusters to include privy, water tap and recycling stations
- No changes to the shoreline
- Fence at bedrock ridge shoreline (near Big Head) to be repaired and maintained
- Improvements to canoe/kayak drop off area at the old boat launch site
Features Unique to Option A
- Roads, and traffic flow unchanged for access to day use areas
- General maintenance and repairs to existing paved sections of day use area
- More opportunities available toopen access for day use areas available during the 2010 construction period, pending construction requirements and public safety concerns
- Existing picnic sites to be marginally upgraded (top soil added and re-seeded where necessary) to provide car (drive-in) picnic loop opportunities
- Cost Estimate for Option A 20% lower than Option B
Features Unique to Option B
- Section of the existing shoreline road will be changed to pedestrian use only.
- Traffic flow will be altered. One road would lead to a new paring lot, expanded walking trail opportunity that access new and marginally upgraded existing (topsoil added and re-seeded where necessary) shoreline areas and picnic sites.
- Traffic flow on the main (center) day use road will be upgraded to two-way traffic, using ‘pull-offs” to allow traffic to pass.
- Improvements will be made to the existing Big Head parking lot, with delineation of parking spurs to maximize parking capacity, without cutting vegetation.
Cost Estimate: Option B 20% more than Option A
There will be a second meeting held tonight, March 3, from 7 – 8:30p.m. at the Grand Lake Community Center. Residents who were unable to attend last nights meeting are urged to attend and cast their vote for the Option they would prefer to see used to redevelop Laurie Park.