The delayed opening of a new City of Whitehorse building that's still under work at the Robert Service campground is anticipated for next year, according to a city manager.
Peter O’Blenes, the city’s manager of property management, said the ongoing project hasn’t affected camping at the campground this year other than the closure of a few sites.
The city-run Robert Service Campground is located off Robert Service Way along the Yukon River. The campground had been in private hands but on land leased by the city for decades before Whitehorse took over its operation in 2018. It didn't reopen for overnight stays in some previous summers up until May 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and construction of new campground facilities.
As previously reported by the News, and as advertised on a sign posted outside the campground, the building was being planned for completion in May 2023.
The city has had issues with the market which O’Blenes said is affecting “every project” the city takes on. Ordering something today can take a year to a year-and-a-half to get, according to O’Blenes.
“Long wait times have slowed us down significantly, not just on this project, but on a lot of our projects,” he said.
O’Blenes explained the city previously scaled back on its plans for a new $2.9-million building, but then found money for a kitchen, so decided to go ahead with adding it in.
“We had the money and decided to put the kitchen in, and so that's what's been going on this year,” he said.
A parking lot will need to be added and paved within at least a year of opening the building and getting occupancy permitting in place.
While outside of O’Blenes’ jurisdiction (since his department is responsible for the new campground building but not what services will run out of it), he understands the new building will provide the main office space for the parks department. It will contain washrooms, as well as a grand hall that can be leased out for events like weddings. Recreation programming is expected to take place out of the building all year.
O’Blenes said the city’s parks department is planning on taking over the building and opening it for the camping season in May 2025.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
