Federal funding announced for reconstruction of Waterton’s Crandell Mountain Campground
By Lethbridge Herald on May 25, 2021.
Waterton Lakes National Park’s reconstruction of Crandell Mountain Campground is set to begin this spring and the Townsite Campground is already open for the season.
Parks Canada administers one of the most extensive systems of natural and cultural heritage places in the world. With access to outdoor spaces more important than ever before, camping is a popular way for Canadians to experience these places.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and responsible for Parks Canada, announced $8.7 million towards the design work and first phase of reconstruction for the Crandell Mountain Campground, and highlighted improvements to the Townsite Campground’s visitor infrastructure as it reopens for the 2021 season.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance and health benefits of spending time outdoors. With the Townsite Campground fully open, there are now more opportunities for Canadians to do so safely in Waterton Lakes National Park,” says Wilkinson in a press release.
The Crandell Mountain Campground was destroyed in the 2017 Kenow Wildfire, and is being rebuilt, along with over 30 other assets, as part of the Road to Recovery program.
Funding includes the design work for phase one and two of the campground, rare plant salvage and hazard tree removal, as well as phase one of reconstruction which includes completing underground utilities and infrastructure, the water tank and water treatment building, wildlife corridor reclamation and rough grading the Crandell Lake Trail parking lot and trailhead. Construction for phase one is expected to begin this spring, with green infrastructure at the forefront.
“Rebuilding Crandell Mountain Campground with green, accessible infrastructure means an investment in both the park’s visitor services and in protecting its ecological integrity. When we are on the other side of the pandemic, we look forward to welcoming back visitors from all over the world to experience the beauty of Waterton Lakes National Park,” added Wilkinson.
Crandell Mountain Campground will feature an off-grid solar system providing most power, inclusive washroom buildings and accessible kitchen shelters and facilities. The design also features an improved wildlife corridor by reclaiming part of the existing campground.
Waterton Lakes National Park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with Glacier National Park in the U.S. it forms the world’s first International Peace Park and International Dark Sky Park. Since 2014, the Government of Canada has invested approximately $103 million in Waterton Lakes National Park in federal infrastructure funding.
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