Starting in February, anyone wishing to take advantage of the trails at Kivi Park will have to pay to do so.
Kivi Park has announced passes are now available and will be effective as of 2020. However, user fees will not be enforced until Feb. 1.
An adult pass for the year will cost $100. Youth passes for those ages 11-18 are $50, while a family pass will cost $240. Access is free for children 10 and under.
A single day pass to use Kivi Park will cost $9.
Passes to Kivi Park must be purchased online before using the park’s facilities.
“As a pass holder, you will be ensuring that the park can be enjoyed for years to come at the calibre that you have come to enjoy and expect from Kivi Park,” said the organizing committee on the park's website.
“These passes are just one component of our sustainability program, which also includes support from local organizations, government grants, fundraising, volunteer efforts and the continuous generosity from our community.”
When Kivi Park announced earlier this year the idea of charging a user fee, it said annual operating costs for the park run about $200,000 a year, even with an all-volunteer staff.
“Insurance alone for the park costs $28,000 annually,” the statement said. “Park maintenance including grooming excellent cross-country ski trails, a skating path through the forest, playground maintenance and so much can only continue if the park charges a fee for users.”
Kivi Park offers more than 450 acres of land that can be utilized 12 months a year. It boasts an extensive trail network for mountain biking, hiking, fat biking, snowshoeing and both classic cross-country skiing and skate skiing.
Kivi Park’s newest initiatives include Nina’s Way, a 1.3-km winding skate path through the trees with warming cabins, a fireplace, lighting and sound system – the first of its kind in Northern Ontario.
