Plans are this year to get a good start on the next phase. Swanson said they need to level the land and get the drainage in place, adding there are drainage needs in the existing area as well. They will also be working on the road in that spot this year.
She added they are not sure exactly how many spots they will be building. They are using 24 as their guide, but they want to have a few larger pull-through ones, as that is where the demand is now.
“There are a lot bigger campers than there used to be.”
How far they get will depend on different factors. One of these is funding. The municipality is after more grants, and if they come though quickly, they could move ahead faster. Each lot will be fully serviced – water, sewer, power – eventually. This could take time to complete. Giesbrecht said each site would have 50-amp power, Wi-Fi, along with a picnic table and fire pit. She added more is possible for the area.
“Plans also include new group use fire pits and additional recreational activities such as tetherball, horseshoes, and completion of a disc golf course,” Giesbrecht stated.
Swanson said it is unlikely the new spots will be ready for that this year. However, if the leveling and drainage is finished, they could be opened for tents in 2026 before being completed later.
It is likely a multi-year project, she said, and the overall cost is expected to be in the $450,000 range. Giesbrecht stressed that receiving more grant funding is crucial to the completion of the project.
As the name suggests, the campground was started as a Boissevain Lions Club initiative. Swanson said they sent a letter to the Lions requesting their involvement once again.
“The Lions have always been very generous with us,” she stated. “We would like to keep working with them.”
Giesbrecht added the Lions contributed $35,000 to the new aquatic centre and washrooms/showers.
The purchase of the land from the Ag Society was something the municipality long wanted, and that organization voted in favour of transferring 21.5 acres in the spring of 2025, with the letter of intent signed in the fall. The land includes the area where the pool and Tiny Turtle Playroom are located, and where the campground expansion will take place. It is also the area where they hope to develop a new arena in the future.
Swanson said it was very important to purchase the land for development and they were happy to be able to work with the Ag Society on it. Plans were to pay the group $50,000 a year to a total of $200,000 for the property.
The campground expansion is one of the important projects the municipality, who are in the middle of 2026 budget meetings, is looking at working on this year.
“We will start as soon as the weather says so. The campground is well used and expanding it was driven by need and the new pool.”
Giesbrecht said the community has something great going at the Lions Campground and they are hoping to carry on the legacy while accommodating the growing visitor demographic.
“Once the campground project work is done, we’ll see all of the planning into making these amenities come together to create a recreation hub that is located near community group amenities as well,” she explained. “The municipality has had this vision of creating a recreation hub here in Boissevain, and with this project work completed, we will see this recreation hub come to fruition. We will be excited to be able to meet the increased demand for recreation services. It will allow us to come full circle and that’s pretty cool.”
Boissevain-Morton will start taking bookings for the campground for the summer of 2026 on April 1.
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff