Crews are working on significant upgrades to the day-use areas of Jimsmith Lake Provincial Park, with the job expected to take most of the summer.
BC Parks officials said $824,000 has been devoted to the project, with $619,000 coming from the region’s regular capital budget and $205,000 from the accessibility funding uplift.
The work stems from public concerns regarding steep inclines and accessibility.
According to BC Parks, work will include a broad range of upgrades, such as a new playground above the parking lot, and a resurfaced path from the parking lot to the lake.
Crews will also install four new picnic tables by the playground and two by the beach, new outhouses in the upper area and two service areas, which will include water, garbage cans and recycling cans.
All of the park’s amenities will be linked with pathways between them.
Construction will have most of the day-use areas closed off to visitors while machinery is active.
“The construction project is progressing well and BC Parks anticipates to be able to open the day-use areas in the middle of July,” said BC Parks officials. “Please continue to keep out of closed areas until the construction fencing and signs are removed and stay off the new grass while it is rooting. Once the project is complete, we hope that you enjoy the upgrades.”
That said, the lower parking and boat launch areas will remain open while construction is going on.
The timing of the project may not be ideal for beach-goers, but BC Parks explained that the project team took a number of factors into consideration to figure out the schedule.
“Ultimately spring was chosen to give the new sod in the beach area the best chance to survive and grow,” said BC Parks officials. “A fall construction schedule would have required the upper beach area to stay as unfinished dirt over the wintertime, which posed significant erosion and public safety risks given the amount of winter use the site receives.”
More: Jimsmith Lake Park construction updates (BC Parks)
