The fate of Lemsford Ferry Regional Park hangs in the balance as cabin owners and regular visitors fight to keep the park alive. Located approximately 50 km south of Kindersley on Highway 21, Lemsford Ferry Regional Park faces potential closure at the end of this year despite an increase of cash flow.

Randy Geissler, advisory committee member and cabin owner at Lemsford Ferry Regional Park, said this decision falls at the feet of the Lemsford Ferry Regional Park Board which includes six rural municipalities towns and villages. The board includes the RM of Clinworth, where the park resides, RM of Newcombe, RM of Happyland, Sceptre, Prelate and Leader.

Due to a portion of the park occupying land that is leased from the provincial government, Geissler explained within the lease, it states, if the park ceases to operate, the land would have to be returned to it’s original state. This endeavour would come with a hefty price tag upwards of $2 million and would be the responsibility of the board.

Currently, the park falls within the jurisdiction of the RM of Clinworth, however, other communities that make up the board are supposed to contribute to the park annually, something Geissler said has been inconsistent at best; The other communities would also share the financial responsibility of returning the land to it’s pre-park state if and when the park was no longer open.

If the supporting communities were to no longer be involved with the park, the estimated $2 million bill would be the sole responsibility of the RM of Clinworth, where the park resides.

Following a recent meeting, Geissler said the RM of Clinworth stated they did not want the liability of returning the park back to it's or in the future and slated December 31, 2019 to be the closing date for the park.

Geissler theorized they want to close the park now, while all hands are on deck to help offset the $2 million cost between all six communities that currently make up the board.

He added, the park is now in a positive cash flow state and it does not make sense to shut down a business that is making money.

“We have worked really hard over the past few years to complete the list of things the RM said needed to be done, we had three years to get them done and we had most of them done in two,” said Geissler, “Since then, it’s not a lot, but we are actually making money, it doesn’t make sense to me that they would want to shut us down now that we are making money, just in case something happens down the road and they just rather close it now on the off chance.”

Geissler shared the park has approximately $45,000 in the bank and has been able to increase their yearly profits year over year. Additionally, they put money back into the local economy by focusing on buying many of their supplies locally.

After further investigation by Geissler, he learned that if the board were to purchase the land from the province, they would not have to return the land to it's original state if the park ceased to operate. Geissler shared this solution seemingly relieves the board from the initial issue that prompted the statement of closure.

The new information has provided hope and optimism for Geissler and the other members of the Lemsford Park Advisory Committee as this option was not known when the park faced possible closure less than five years ago.

Geissler stated in the similar situation years back, it was the outpouring of support for the park from locals, that allowed the regional park to remain operational.

In similar fashion, the current issue concerning closing the park, will allow the public to have their voices heard at an open forum in Sceptre, June 26, 2019.

“We really hope people come out and support the park, it’s been a staple for so many and has been built by people who use and really love the park. So many of us would be out on our days off putting in the hours to get the park to where it is today.”

Some residents have spent numerous years at the park, where other people have just purchased cabins and are now concerned with what they would do if the park does in fact close.

The meeting will take place at the Sceptre Community Hall June 26, 2019, at 7 pm.

Concerned parties are also able to sign an online petition to have their voices heard on the matter.

West Central Online has reached out to the RM of Clinworth and the RM of Newcombe for a comment.