Summer at P.E.I. National Park comes with some upgrades — and a ban on pool inflatables

The P.E.I. National Park is set to welcome visitors for the 2025 summer season with some new infrastructure and cultural experiences, as well as strengthened safety measures — including a full ban on pool inflatables at its beaches.

At Stanhope Cape, Parks Canada has completed a $180,000 upgrade that includes 50 additional parking spaces and a new set of wooden stairs to channel people across the dunes to the beach.

"It gives a dedicated path to the beach... to make sure we're maintaining our good ecological integrity," said Joel McKinnon, who is the visitor services co-ordinator for the park.

Kim Gamble, the park's resource conservation manager, said all sand dunes in the park will continue to remain closed to foot traffic, with a minimum fine of $150 for violations.

"The park is in a very dynamic coastal ecosystem, and we rely on sand dunes for protection of inland lands and also, you know, habitat for some of the local wildlife here," she said.

It's been nearly three years since post-tropical storm Fiona hit the Island, demonstrating how fragile dunes can be. Yet Parks Canada staff have since seen how quickly they can grow back.

"We see a lot of regeneration of the dunes," Gamble said as she showed a visitor from CBC News an example. "You can see some of the vegetation growing up in front of the dunes, and that's what we call embryonic dunes, or baby dunes, and those are the building blocks of regenerating the dunes." 

Parks Canada officials are continuously assessing dune conditions, identifying areas damaged by human activity and carrying out restoration efforts across the national park, she said.

Pool floaties banned

An important safety initiative this summer is a complete ban on pool floaties across all P.E.I. National Park beaches.

"Ever since 2019, we've seen 50 per cent of the rescues that our surf guards do are attributed to pool floaties that are meant to be in pools and not in open ocean environments," Gamble said.

To help educate visitors this year, the park has created a tool that outlines which items are permitted and which are not.

"What we want to make people aware of is that inflatables that are meant for pool use, such as inflatable mattresses, unicorn floaties,... inner tubes, are things that pose a great risk to being taken offshore by offshore winds," Gamble said.

"This ban does not include things like personal flotation devices, water wings, puddle jumpers, so as long as children wearing these devices are within arm reach of a parent. Those are welcome and encouraged for visitor safety."

Violating the ban on large inflatables is considered an offence under the Canada National Parks General Regulations, with a minimum fine of $150. Beaches will be monitored this year and in the future by surf guards, Parks Canada's compliance team and park wardens.

New program at Green Gables

Meanwhile, visitors to Green Gables Heritage Place can look forward to a new cultural experience based on the writings of famed Island author Lucy Maud Montgomery this summer.

Kassandra McKinnon, the interpretation co-ordinator at Green Gables, said a new art exhibit will feature local artist Susan Christensen, who will be painting on site in the visitor centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 3 until the end of October. 

"She's going to be using Montgomery's poetry as inspiration for her paintings, and then her paintings will be followed by a literary response from a local author this year, starting with Deirdre Kessler," McKinnon said.

"Green Gables celebrates L.M. Montgomery and her national historic significance, and it's so interesting to see the ways that different artists with different methods of expression can take what Montgomery has already created and make it their own," she added. "And to celebrate a local artist is just a bonus."

The site will also offer a full slate of summer programming, including costumed interpreters, heritage gardening demonstrations, storytelling and musical performances during the peak season, she said.

McKinnon said there will be two open houses where the public can learn more about what to expect this season and meet some of the staff.

These will be held June 4 at the Stanhope Campground and June 5 at the Cavendish Campground.