Carters Beach. Photo from Nova Scotia Provincial Parks Facebook page

The Nova Scotia government has begun work to turn Carters Beach into a provincial park. That means visitors to the popular Queens County destination will likely have more places to park this summer.

But they may have to seek out other beaches nearby depending on the progress of the project.

The province announced in November that it would designate Carters Beach a provincial park. The designation also includes several islands just off shore. Carters Beach Provincial Park will cover about 97 hectares and include the Spectacle Islands, Jackies Island and others.

The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables is spending about $2 million on the project, which includes two new paved parking lots, garbage facilities, signage and accessible outhouses. 

It also includes a trail from the new parking lot down to the beach. That trail will be about 500 metres long and is planned to have a gentle slope and made of compacted crusher dust to make it easier to navigate. 

Sandra Fraser, a parks promotion officer with the department, said Wednesday that the department hopes to have the parking lots finished by July. But the overall project end date is June 2025.

“Work is underway now to build a new parking lot off the Central Port Mouton Road and that parking lot is going to have roughly 75 parking spaces, including some accessible parking space. 

“On the Carters Beach Road, the existing parking lot there is getting some improvements so the parking there will be a bit better defined. So there will be roughly 18 spots down there including some accessible spots.”

Work has begun on Carters Beach Provincial Park. A new parking lot on Central Port Mouton Road will hold up to 75 cars. And another parking lot on Carters Beach Road will hold 18 cars. (Rick Conrad)

Fraser said work is on hold right now because of spring weight restrictions, but it will soon resume.

“We’re trying to get as much done as possible before the peak of the summer. But since the timeline is still 2025, there could be some work going on.

“Definitely want to be much ahead of that. The goal is to get the parking lot done before July this year. But it may take longer to add some of the extra parts, the toilets and just finishing those pieces.”

Fraser said that beachgoers this summer should keep an eye on the department’s parks website and its social media channels before packing for the beach.

She said there are still other great beaches in the area for people to enjoy, such as Summerville Beach or Thomas Raddall Provincial Park.

“There’s so many beautiful beaches in Queens County. So lots of place to go.”

Area residents have been frustrated over the years as Carters Beach became a hugely popular destination. The small parking area at the end of Carters Beach Road was barely big enough for a few cars. So visitors lined both sides of the narrow road, regularly blocking people’s access to their driveways and making it difficult to get in and out of the area.

Residents also complained about garbage and human waste being left on the beach and among the sensitive dunes.

Fraser said the department held an information session with the community in November 2022.

When the work is finished, Fraser says the department hopes it will address residents’ concerns.

 “I think this added infrastructure will support people enjoying the beach without leaving as much impact.”

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Listen to the audio version of this story below

Carters Beach public information meeting November 26, 2022. Photo Susan MacLeod

A new plan is in the works that walks the line between protecting the environment and enjoying the shore at Carter’s Beach.

The once hidden gem has become exceedingly popular over the years causing a range of issues for locals.

Parked cars line country roadways making it difficult for emergency vehicles to get through, and the fragile ecosystem is being strained as litter piles up and beach-goers head into the fragile dunes to answer nature’s call due to a lack of washroom facilities.

In recent years, temporary garbage receptacles and port-a-potties have been put in place by the Region of Queens to alleviate stress.

Carter’s Beach is a provincial responsibility and was originally included in the parks and protected areas plan as a nature reserve but is now designated to become a provincial park.

Parks promotion and development officer Sandra Fraser says changing the designation is key moving to forward.

“Having it under the provincial parks program allows for the Department of Natural Resources to support operations there,” said Fraser. “Future plans include providing some basic infrastructure at some key access points so we can manage the usage there and allow for some recreational use while also protecting the ecological values.”

In 2021 the province went through an online consultation process to hear from the public and received over 150 responses.

Officials with Nova Scotia Parks held an open house in late November to present a broad overview of the plan to make Carter’s Beach a provincial park and to answer questions from the community.

Several priorities were identified including conserving sensitive habitats, addressing traffic concerns, providing washroom and waste disposal facilities, installing wayfinding and interpretive signs, and maintaining community partnership.

It was noted that management of the beach should also include establishing sustainable visitation levels.

One of the objectives presented at the meeting was to have vehicle and pedestrian counting equipment installed to track usage at Carter’s Beach.

Fraser says the concept plan also proposed alleviating congestion on Carter’s Beach Road by adding more parking on Port Mouton Rd across from Lake Drive.

“We may keep the small lot that’s there and then add to that and then have a defined path from that parking lot down to the beach.”

Fraser says funding has not yet been secured and plans still need to be finalized before the Carter’s Beach project can go forward.

She says anyone wishing to provide additional feedback can do so by e-mailing the department at: parkinfo@novascotia.ca

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.