Residents will soon have an easier time getting to Lois Hole Park now that the province has announced cash to build a parking lot.
St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse contacted the Gazette this week with news that Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation plans to spend $800,000 next year to build a parking lot and access road to Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.
The announcement was made at a meeting in late November, said Andy Van Imschoot, the regional director for Alberta Park’s West Central Region. Plans are to build a parking lot near the park’s recently constructed washroom and shelter so that students can more easily reach the John E. Poole interpretive wetland.
The parking lot should be large enough to hold about four buses and 20 cars, Van Imschoot said. His team hasn’t settled on an access road yet, but plans to have it branch off either 137 Avenue or LeClair Way.
“We don’t know how far our money is going to go on this,” he added, so his department is also looking for sponsors.
It’s another step forward in the park’s development, Crouse said.
“Now you can actually drive to the park.”
He suspects this will make it more attractive to tourists.
Construction is set to start in summer 2014, Van Imschoot said.
