Driftwood Park may be Finally out of the Woods

Driftwood Park may be finally out of the woods

BY TIM RUHNKE

Things are looking up for Driftwood Park.

A plan to extend the season at the provincial park located between Mackey and Stonecliffe is in the works. This is in sharp contrast to the uncertainty that has dogged the park and its future for the past few years.

Driftwood had been on the block as the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) reevaluated its park system. The MNR had been pushing the concept of contracting out or privatizing park operations as a way to keep open the facility.

However, it now appears that Driftwood will be retained as a full-fledged park. John Drechsler, superintendent of Driftwood as well as Champlain Park west of Mattawa, said that indications from the province's parks service are positive.

Drechsler has submitted a business case that calls for a return in 1998 to the park's previous season that runs from the May long weekend to the Labour Day long weekend. In 1997, Driftwood was open from the third Friday in June until the Labour Day weekend.

Just over 10,000 visits were recorded in the 1997 season, roughly the same total recorded last year. Day use was up but overnight camping was down, according to Drechsler.

The park superintendent believes that uncertainty over the status of the park last year and earlier this year had a negative effect on visitation.

Although Driftwood operates at 100 per cent capacity on long weekends, the overall occupancy rate is about 60 per cent. In order to improve on that number, upgrades to the developed area of the park are being proposed.

Among the upgrades are the supply of electricity to 21 sites, and construction of a comfort station with showers. Drechsler said that the improvements would not pose a threat to the unspoiled beauty that is one of the park's main selling points.

"We are not going to disturb any of the surrounding area," said Drechsler, who added that the balance be¬tween protecting the environment and attracting tourism would be maintained.

Word that Driftwood's immediate future does not appear to be in jeopardy has been greeted positively by local officials who have tried to underscore the significance of the park.

"We've come a long way," said Jim Dickens, chairman of the Deep River area economic development commit¬tee. Drechsler believes that local pressure did play a role in ensuring that the province would continue to operate Driftwood. Public expectations that parks were a "sacred trust" that would not benefit from contracting out or some other form of management also played a role province-wide, he added.

A final decision on what changes will be made at Driftwood is expected by late winter, Drechsler said.