Families visiting Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park, home to one of the largest sockeye salmon runs in North America, will notice something else this year as construction begins on a multi-year project to enhance visitor experiences.

Frequent visitors can expect to see some changes as a buffer zone will be created between the Adams River and park facilities, better protecting habitat. Older trails along the river will be closed, rehabilitated and naturalized. Other trails will be improved with new signs and displays.

A new gathering place will welcome large groups, festivals and community events, while a new, smaller day-use area will meet the needs of families and individuals with picnic tables and interpretive information. The parking lot also will be improved and modified so it can expand in times of higher traffic. The Adams River Society and local community have been actively involved with BC Parks on this project.

This improvement project will ensure park facilities meet visitor demands, which increase every autumn for the annual salmon run and every four years for the internationally recognized Salute to the Sockeye Festival. This popular day-use park also provides a number of recreational activities like hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and wildlife viewing.

Visitors are asked to remain out of designated closed areas for safety reasons.

Construction in Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park is expected to be complete by September 2014. This timeframe will ensure the facility will be ready for the Salute to the Sockeye Festival in October.

For more information about Roderick Haig Brown Provincial Park, visit: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/roderick/

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Media Contact:

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Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834