Alberta Environment and Parks sees the value of tourism in the Lakeland.
During the City of Cold Lake's corporate priorities meeting on Tuesday, March 20, council discussed correspondence from the Minister of Alberta Environment and Parks indicating they were forging ahead with the expansion to English Bay Provincial Park.
"The minister does indicate that Alberta Environment and Parks have recognized Cold Lake and the surrounding areas are a popular camping and recreation destination," expressed Andrew Serba, strategic initiatives manager for the City of Cold Lake.
This means, the province will be proceeding with phase two of the expansion to the English Bay campground.
This phase includes the addition of three camping loops and a beach day-use area and will start once the province has finished consulting with members from Cold Lake First Nations and Berry Point Elders Working Group.
"Hopefully, they will be working on expanding the park in 2018. It would be great to have more sites, power, and a big day-use area," Mayor Craig Copeland said. "The plan is to expand the park going northbound at English Bay Campground. They've done the south part of the park, and last year they didn't have it advertised as available on the park's website for camping stalls, but they had some pretty spectacular numbers on the weekends."
In order to prepare for the campground's expansion, the province purchased land surrounding the park.
"They have been working with First Nations on that site, and it's going to help increase tourism in our area," noted Copeland.
Alberta Environment and Parks have also planned to conduct feasibility studies on increasing camping opportunities at the Cold Lake Provincial Park.
According to Copeland, one of the major differences the area could see additional comfort-camping opportunities.
The city has also caught wind that the province is willing to work with anyone interested in expanding tourism opportunities, whether it be cabins on Crown land, or another unique opportunity.
