Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 23/06) - A plan to add more camp sites to Prelude Lake Territorial Park has nearby cabin owners concerned.

"We don't need any more campsites in that park," said Martha McLellan, who owns a cabin beside the park. "Our privacy is an issue."

A meeting at Prelude Lake Lodge attended by cabin owners and government outlined plans to add camp sites to the park.

Philip Lee, regional co-ordinator for Industry, Tourism and Investment, said the addition of camp sites would not expand the park.

"All expansions and additions are internal," explained Lee. "None of our plans interfere with land-owner's property."

Camp sites are being added to take pressure off Fred Henne Park which is heavily used by tourists and Yellowknife residents.

"We want to promote the usage of Prelude Lake for the locals, while keeping the closer park open for tourists," said Lee.

"If we had more sites in Prelude, we'd be sure that locals would use them."

Lee said the departments wants to work with cabin owners and will accommodate their concerns.

"We're going back to the drawing board," said Lee.

McLellan said the cabin owners are satisfied with the decision to re-work the plan for expanding Prelude park.

According to Lee, 15 new sites would be added to 65 sites at Prelude Lake.

"The land is already developed, so converting the space to camp sites will be easy," said Lee.

Lee said that Fred Henne Park is more suited for recreational vehicles, and "one of the ideas is to add RV- friendly zones in Prelude."

Lee said the department wants to partner with the private sector on an RV park in Yellowknife in the next four or five years.