Beach improvements at Birds Hill Provincial Park get thumbs-up

Visitors to Birds Hill Provincial Park, northeast of Winnipeg,have glowing reviewsfor the larger, improved beach.

The Manitoba government announced the improvements earlier this week, saying the expanded beach space and larger swimming area will make the park more accessible than before.

Concrete barriers between the park's three existing beaches have been removed, and walking paths from the parking lots to the lake have been improved.

There are now more lifeguards on duty, and there are more trees, volleyball courts and a playground in the area, according to the province.

Korina Mitchell, who visited the beach on Thursday, said she likes the fact that there's now a playground and a shower facility nearby.

"The fact that it's right on the beach so you don't have to be going back and forth from the beach to the playground, it's just all in one area super-convenient," Mitchell said.

As well, the lake has been cleared of seaweed and algae, making the water clearer than before.

"It's clean, very clean. It's large. It's very nice," said Charlene Covell, another beach-goer.

"At least there's sand as far as you can walk. It was just mud on the bottom last year," said Greg McCorrister.

Jestina Zakama said the water looks much brighter than last year.

"It is a wonderful beach. I can invite everybody to come, and come enjoy yourself," she said.

Music-lovers going to the Winnipeg Folk Festival at the park next week will notice the changes at the beach, as well as electrical and lighting upgrades and new shade structures for campers in part of the festival campground.

The province says it will commit $4.8 million for future improvements to the park's campground, west gate and water and wastewater systems over the next four years.