By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Jan. 11, 2014
Volunteer trail builder John Harvey is hoping Squamish council will support his plan to build a new low-cost, non-profit campground in town.
Harvey, the founder of Mamquam River Access Society (MRAS), wants the district to rezone the former industrial site and give him $15,000 from the community enhancement grant budget for land remediation.
The proposed campground is on crown land alongside Mamquam Road on Centennial Way, across from the asphalt plant and Rod and Gun Club.
“This is a great opportunity for our town.”
This rustic and affordable campground will have 45 private tent-only sites spaced 30-40 feet with extra room for group camping.
Harvey says MRAS plans to charge $15 a site per night with a maximum two-week stay. The money earned will go back into the campground maintenance.
The campground will be ideal for rock climbers, paddlers and mountain bikers, Harvey says, but this won’t mean families can’t camp.
“Trust me man, this will be so nice you’d want to bring your kids and wife here,” he said.
The campground will discourage illegal camping during summer along Stawamus River in Valleycliffe, in the downtown estuary etc.
The new campground will be another option to the only district-run campsite, the Kinsmen campground.
“This fills an obvious void in our town’s services.”
Harvey said the district-run campground provides no separation between sites and isn’t aesthetic or large enough.
“This fills an obvious void in our town’s services,” he said.
Harvey also sees the new campground as adding value to the outdoor recreation brand of Squamish.
For climbers, the campground will be walking distance from Smoke Bluffs Park.
The whitewater paddlers are on the river and cyclist will be close to biking trails and Brennan Park Recreation Centre.
Harvey also has letters of support from Climbers Access Society of B.C. and Squamish Valley Music Festival.
The budget for this non-profit campsite is close to $150,000, but Harvey hopes the district funds will help him start the remediation needed on the land.
Mamquam River Access Society (MRAS) has also applied for a Mountain Equipment Coop Access grant for $15,000.
MRAS is also asking two power corporations operating on Mamquam River to support the project.
Jim Harvey says
Hey, what’s up, I’m the ‘trail builder’…….
Don Patrick says
Great Idea John, but easy on the non-profit stuff…. if there is excess funds in a so called non-profit the excess just goes into upgrading equipment or bonus’s for the chief guy… do not fool the troops, in most cases from my experience it is just a ploy to get out of the corporate stuff like capital gains, taxes and financial reporting. A legal LTD company could do better, at least the donators know where the money is going and you could probably get more support.
John Harvey says
Don,
I would like to hear your expert advice on how to best structure this proposal to ensure donor transparency and accountability but I would defend my integrity of volunteering and budget management with the Squamish Trails Society, the Smoke Bluff Park Advisory Committee and the Mamquam River Access Society without any “chief-guy bonus” for nearly twenty years. What I’m offering the district here is more of my volunteer time to rezone, remediate and develop a low-cost campground to serve our town’s visitors (and locals too). I’m no tax expert, but I can assure you that MRAS accounting is 100% transparent and accountable. Wage ceiling for campground management and staff will be structured and fair! ALL profit goes into building a huge amenity for Squamish.
Bob Brant says
I believe the MRAS campground John Harvey is proposing is a worthwhile and much needed undertaking that will serve the climbing and recreation communities’ needs.
For years John Harvey conducted many projects for the Squamish Trails Society with integrity and accountability. STS is a volunteer run, federally and provincially registered non-profit society.
I see no reason to believe this project would be undertaken any differently from how he conducted his projects through STS. In true John Harvey manner, he is stepping up to take on a project to fulfill a need where no other party has come forward.
I believe our community has (and continues to) benefit greatly from John’s trail efforts that would either not (have) been done or would cost thousand upon thousands of dollars more otherwise.
As John noted he is not a tax expert, nor do I think he would consider such a project to avoid taxes and capital gains. Quite simply, my belief is he’s doing this because there is a need and is moving ahead in a manner he is familiar with.
The company model Don proposes also has merit and would benefit from his involvement.
Either a non-profit approach or a company business approach…the question is who is going to put the time into making it happen?