Nova Scotia spending $12.8 million to improve 40 provincial parks

Paddlers are pictured on the water at Islands Provincial Park in Shelburne, N.S. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia)

Nova Scotia is making upgrades to provincial parks. The province will spend $12.8 million to improve 40 parks in 2025-26 as part of the capital plan commitment of $28.6 million for provincial parks from 2022 to 2027, said a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) news release.

Improvements to roads, trails and accessibility will make parks more enjoyable, said the department in the release. Upgrades will include:

• paved roads
• natural playgrounds
• washrooms
• beach access
• trail improvements
• parking lot upgrades
• water and septic upgrades

“Our provincial parks are loved by Nova Scotians and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to spend time at the beach, in the woods and on the water,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources.

“That’s why we’re investing in improvements that make our parks safe, enjoyable and more accessible while also boosting tourism and supporting local businesses.”

The province outlined its plans for Dollar Lake Provincial Park in the release. Nova Scotia is in the third year of a $1.6 million multi-year redevelopment at the park to upgrade 38 campsites with water and electrical services, add an accessible campsite and build new accessible washrooms.

More than one million people visited provincial parks in 2024 with more than 95,000 overnight stays, said the release – a 10 per cent increase from 2024.

DNR reminds campers there is a $25,000 fine for violating burn restrictions and to take precautions to prevent tick exposure.

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