Nancy Greene Lake Provincial Park may see a new campground in the near future.
BC Parks is considering a zoning amendment for Nancy Greene park and has sent out a survey seeking feedback from visitors and Kootenay residents.
The 203-hectare park is located at the intersection of Highways 3A and 3B, 29 km north of Rossland and is popular for its hiking trails, swimming, canoeing, fishing, and other activities, and is also rich in natural beauty and wildlife.
The park’s zoning was set out in the “Purpose Statement” and zoning/management plan approved in 2003.
According to the plan, Nancy Greene park’s overnight facilities are currently limited to 12 campsites located around the day use parking lot.
“Conflicts occur periodically between overnight and day users because of shared use of the parking lot and adjacent facilities (e.g., picnic tables and fire rings),” reads the BC Parks release.
Under consideration is an amendment to what’s called the “intensive recreation zone area,” which would separate day use facilities from camping.
The new campground would accommodate up to 30 sites on the northeast and east side of Nancy Greene Lake along Hwy 3B, and have the flexibility to support future use demands, should they arise.
According to the zoning map, the intensive recreation zone area will more than double from four to nine per cent (about 20-hectares) of the park area.
While most Google reviews echoed the parks natural beauty, others were not as flattering.
“This park is confusing, when you pull in it is a parking lot on the side of the highway with campsites directly on the other side of the parking medians,” the person wrote. “To me this was the most hillbilly uncomfortable place I have ever seen …
“There are no signs to distinguish lot from site and we ended up trying to park as out of the way as possible. This was next to a half dressed man (top half dressed) making coffee.”
The BC Parks management plan says that the “existing facilities do not meet the high demand for day use and camping opportunities at this popular site,” and the best way to address the known management issue is to “consider options for developing a 25-unit campground and upgrading the day use area.”
The park gate is currently open May 15 to Sept. 30, but it remains accessible for recreation use year round.
BC Parks is asking users to review the draft amendment, take the survey and provide input for the proposed campground.
Register and take the Nancy Greene park survey at helpshapebc.gov.bc.ca.
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