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City of Kenora looking at running Anicinabe Park

By Tim Davidson Dec 5, 2024 | 9:57 AM

The City of Kenora is exploring the idea of operating Anicinabe Park.

Over the past several years, a private operator has contracted with the town to run the campground.

Director of Human Resources Roberta Marsh says the city believes it can earn more revenue to operating the park itself.

“It provides increased revenue retention, so it eliminates the opportunity for, potentially, revenues that would have flowed through to the contractor, to be able to maximize that in-house,” Marsh told council at a budget meeting this week.

“There’s opportunities, depending on the programming that we decide to do, provides us with even more revenue generation.”

Marsh describe Anicinabe as a jewel and they can more than double the revenue they currently receive.

“In terms of the model, you’re actually gaining, potentially more long-run revenue, and this again, very conservative.   Over the $75,000 would come back to the city, versus leaving with a external third party.”

Currently the city earns about $32.000 a year by contracting out the operation of Anicinabe Park, but Marsh believes the city could earn more than $75,000 annually.

Marsh estimates it would cost $75,000 in startup costs, which would wipe out any revenues from the park in the first year.