Rainbow Valley site soon to open

The site of the Rainbow Valley amusement park, now part of P.E.I. National Park, will soon reopen as a new entrance to Cavendish Beach.

'Improve the health of the park so there's more sustainable use for visitors.' Barb MacDonald, Parks Canada

Work on the site has been slowed by wet weather, but park officials expect Cavendish Grove, as the site is now called, to open July 9.

"We're really pleased to be opening this summer," project manager Barb MacDonald told CBC News Monday. The plan is to have the siteeventually be the main entrance to the beach, with a longer walk down to the shore, which park officials hope will reduce the environmental impact of tourism.

"[The idea is] to try to improve the health of the park so there's more sustainable use for visitors in the future."

Rainbow Valley was a favourite attraction for tourists and locals for almost 40 years. When the owners retired, Parks Canada bought the site for $2.7 million and has spent another $1 million developing it. An existing network of trails has been extended to create a peaceful setting that people can wander through.

Frank and Mary Pyka, visiting from Ontario, were keen to see the site open, and didn't mind that there could soon be an extra hike to get to the beach.

"I'm all for protecting what we have, so if it helps protect the park, it's a good thing," said Frank Pyka.

"Biking or hiking is a fantastic idea, to protect the dunes and protect what we have left," added Mary Pyka.

Other entrances to the park will remain open for now, but the plan is to eventually close them, meaning visitors will have another few hundred metres to travel between their cars and Cavendish Beach.