News
Mission:
To protect and promote the natural, recreational and historic resources of Voyageurs National Park.
Voyageurs Receives Stimulus Funding
National Parks nationwide will receive more than $750 million in stimulus money for restoration, repairs, and maintenance. Voyageurs National Park will get $233,000 through a contingency list of projects, reports International Falls Daily Journal editor Laurel Beager. The contingency list means that funding will be received now to start work on the projects this summer, but that the primary portion of the project will be conducted next spring and summer.
The money will be used to rehabilitate campsites in Voyageurs—38 in total are targeted for creation and rehabilitation, mostly on Namakan Lake, with some on Rainy Lake. Restoration includes installing new fire rings, tent pads, and larger bear lockers, Mike Ward, Superintendent of Voyageurs told Beager.
“At some places we may be able to put in docks and day-use areas, places like Oveson’s fishing camp on Rainy and Kabetogama’s Hoist Bay,” Ward said. “And we’re looking at installing interpretive media, where people can hear the story of what actually happened there.”
These projects will help create many seasonal jobs in Voyageurs National Park (nearly 20 more than normal), as well as support the local economy with the purchase of project materials.
For your visit to the Park this summer, be prepared for sites under rehab to be closed. Lists of closures will be made public, with each expected to be closed for less than five working days and hopefully avoiding weekends.