Changes at two of the most popular regional parks in qathet Regional District (formerly Powell River Regional District) are being proposed to increase revenues and decrease costs.
Haywire Bay Regional Park and Campground has been a popular summer spot for Powell River residents for decades, as has Shelter Point Regional Park and Campsite on Texada Island.
Recommendations made by regional district staff and a consultant at the regular board meeting on June 7 include opening the parks up to reservations on a limited basis and raising fees to $24 per night, an increase of $1.
In the Shelter Point Park and Haywire Bay Campground Park report to the regional district, Kurt Pyrch Management and Consulting president Kurt Pyrch stated, “There is a sense of pride and ownership of the facilities by the locals, but this sense of ownership also translates to a sense of entitlement that needs to be considered in the operation of the parks and any changes that may be considered.”
One of the more critical recommendations is to do a better job of collecting visitor information. Changes would include attracting more park users from outside the region.
The report indicates 70 per cent of Haywire Bay users from May through September are from Powell River.
“But over one fifth of the visitors are not local and this clearly points to the opportunity to improve selling outside the local area,” stated Pyrch.
Building wooden structures to help open new market opportunities with kayakers, cyclists and hikers is another idea under consideration, as is improving campground maps, signs, guidebooks and fee information, and selling ice, snacks and convenience items.
The regional board received the report and, if passed, the improvements will make more people outside the Powell River area aware of both parks through a comprehensive marketing plan and advertising strategy that includes improved internet presence and function, and taking control of Facebook pages for both campgrounds.
There is currently no official social media presence for either park.
