PEI National Park officially opened for the visitor season on June 6; campgrounds and most beach accesses will be ready to welcome visitors
Charlottetown – In September 2022, Hurricane Fiona’s ferocious forces left an unprecedented wake of destruction across the province. In Prince Edward Island (PEI) National Park, storm impacts included the falling of thousands of trees, road and beach access washouts, and the significant erosion of the park’s shoreline, including sand dunes. Since the first days of disaster response, the Government of Canada has been helping keep people safe, and communities recover and rebuild.
Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced a federal investment of $11.6 million for Parks Canada administered sites on Prince Edward Island. This funding will support ongoing rehabilitation efforts throughout PEI National Park following the impact of Hurricane Fiona, including: the buried revetment in Dalvay; Stanhope beach access infrastructure; visitor experience infrastructure at Oceanview; the rehabilitation of Robinsons Island; and repairs to the Gulf Shore Parkway.
Today’s announcement is an important step in the Government of Canada’s assistance to communities and businesses affected by Hurricane Fiona as part of the $300 million Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund. Parks Canada is looking at ways to make PEI National Park more resilient to climate change. This includes adapting and rebuilding damaged infrastructure that is better able to withstand the effects of adverse weather events.
National parks are gateways to discovering, learning about, and connecting with nature. There are countless opportunities to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of being outdoors in these treasured places. PEI National Park, including Stanhope and Cavendish Campgrounds, will all be open for business in 2023. Many of these places will look very different to visitors as Hurricane Fiona left a profound mark on coastal and forested areas of PEI National Park.
Beginning June 6, entrance gates, most beaches, day use areas, trails, and all washroom facilities are open. The Greenwich Interpretation Centre is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Beginning June 13, the camping season gets underway in PEI National Park. This year, visitors will be able to enjoy:
- all day use areas (public washrooms and shower facilities will be open)
- accessible trail riders reservable by calling 902-566-5070; three are available: one at Cavendish Campground, one at Stanhope Campground, and one in Greenwich
- surfguard services which resume June 28 and 29 at supervised beaches in PEI National Park
- free entry to the park on Canada Day
- opportunities to learn more about Indigenous history and cultures, including through Park Promise, A’Tuken, Mi’kmaw interpretive programming and Ninna L’nu exhibit on offer in Greenwich, and Mi’kmaw wigwam at Skmaqn—Port-la-Joye—Fort Amherst National Historic Site
Visitors to PEI National Park can stay informed about parking availability, surf conditions, and more by subscribing to our Info-Line. Sign-up is easy: Text OPT IN to 902-200-4499. To stop receiving alerts, text “STOP” to the same number.
For details and updates on PEI National Park, please visit: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/pe/pei-ipe.
Green Gables Heritage Place – including grounds, trails, Green Gables House and the Visitor Centre – is currently open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to guided tours and interpretation on site, special after-hours programming will again be available this year:
- “Ropes Down” tour on Sundays and Tuesdays (English) and Mondays (French), 5:30-6:30 p.m., July 2 to September 5, 2023
- “A Cordial Visit” on Thursdays (English) and Fridays (French), 5:30-6:30 p.m. from July 2 to August 1, 2023, and on Thursdays and Saturdays (English) and Fridays (French), 5:30-6:30 p.m. from August 3 to September 2, 2023
For details and updates visit parks.canada.gc.ca/greengables. Grounds and trails are open at Skmaqn—Port-la-Joye—Fort Amherst National Historic Site, and washrooms reopen June 12. The Visitor Centre reopens July 1. For details and updates visit parks.canada.gc.ca/skmaqn. Parks Canada staff at PEI National Park are excited to welcome new and returning guests back to experience everything that the park has to offer.