Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation is expanding campsites at McLeod River Provincial Recreation Area in west central Alberta.

McLeod River Provincial Recreation Area is located 28 km south of Hinton on the Robb Road near the confluence of the McLeod and Gregg Rivers. McLeod River Provincial Recreation Area is a camping and fishing destination which currently provides 22 basic campsites. In 2006, the park was expanded to include an adjacent area on the east side of Robb Road. This expanded, previously disturbed area will be developed into a formalized campground.

With funding from the Government of Alberta, Canada's Western Economic Development Fund, and Hinton Wood Products (a division of West Fraser Mills Ltd.), a new campground will be developed with approximately 28 basic campsites built to accommodate large RV units.

The existing McLeod campground will remain open and fully operational during construction of the new campground in 2010. The new campground will be open to the public by 2011. There are plans to refurbish the existing McLeod campground after the new campground is developed.

As part of the Plan for Parks, the province has committed to providing quality park experiences for all Albertans. The expansion of campsites at McLeod River Provincial Recreation Area will help meet the increasing recreational needs of Albertans.

Recently, the province held a public consultation on the proposed deregulations of the nearby Coalspur and Lambert Creek Provincial Recreation Areas which are little used, subject to vandalism and no longer considered commercially viable. As part of the consultations on the proposal to deregulate Coalspur and Lambert Creek Provincial Recreation Areas, the province proposed developing campsites at McLeod River Provincial Recreation Area to compensate for the proposed deregulations. While a decision regarding the proposed deregulations of Coalspur and Lambert Creek Provincial Recreation Areas has not been made yet, the province is moving forward with expanding campsites at McLeod River Provincial Recreation Area to enhance recreational opportunities in the area.

If you have questions about the campground construction at McLeod River Provincial Recreation Area, please contact Tom Sutherland, District Conservation Officer, at 780-723-8554 or Emily Chamberlain, Senior Parks Planner, at 780-960-8170, ext. 226.

Media inquiries may be directed to Camille Weleschuk at 780-427-2206.