The wildfire in Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo area has had an enormous impact on the region but there is some good news for those who return to the community in order to clean up and rebuild. MacDonald Island Park will be reopen to the public and fully operational by June 13. Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo CEO Annette Antoniak explained that Miskanaw Golf Club can be accessed by June 8 of this year, and the rest of the attractions offered at the park will be open and accessible by June 13. For the initial two weeks after the park reopens all of the amenities will be provided to Fort McMurray residents at no charge, including the Total Fitness Centre and the Syncrude Aquatic Centre.

Once MacDonald Island Park is reopen to the public there are still some limitations in place. Building contractors are still being housed in the field houses and the curling rink areas at the Leisure Centre and this will still be off limits as a result. According to Antoniak “Shell Place is in fantastic shape, as are the football fields and baseball fields. The Monarchs will be coming back for their first game in mid-June, and the Giants will be coming back in July. There was a full camp set up here. We were accommodating people in our field houses, in the curling rink… well throughout the whole facility actually. Then we actually have some camps set up in the parking with two full kitchens. What we’re trying to do right now is make sure that we’re ready for full operations. Like everyone re-entering their homes, we’re making sure that all our air ducts are cleaned, our filters are cleaned, and making sure that it is a great environment for people to come back to.”