The P.E.I. government is conducting a review of provincial parks and it could eventually lead to parks closing and more provincial campgrounds leased by private operators.

The province does not have the money to maintain the current park infrastructure, says Tourism Minister Rob Henderson. (CBC)

Tourism Minister Rob Henderson said his department simply does not have the money to keep up the park infrastructure. The department asked for $2.5 million this year for upgrades and repairs and received just one third of that.

The province is reviewing all 10 provincial park campgrounds and 16 day parks.

"How do we take that money and get the best bang for our buck?" said Henderson.

"It really comes down to the fundamental question of how many campgrounds, how many day use parks do we need?"

Henderson said trouble with the infrastructure is already becoming apparent, and gave an example from a visit he made to Mill River Fun Park this year.

"When I went for my little tour there, there were like two bumper boats in operation, the other ones were all broken," he said.

Barry Balsom, who is part of an advocacy group that looks out for Green Park Provincial Park near Tyne Valley, said the review is not necessarily bad news. The campground at Green Park was privatized this year and he said it's actually worked out well.

But he cautioned before any more changes are made to any parks the public needs an opportunity to discuss the vision for their future.

"We know that we're in a time of cutbacks, but I don't think we need to throw out our parks, and look for 20 years saying 'I wish we still had them,'" said Balsom.

Henderson said there are no public consultations planned at this point. He said any changes to existing parks likely won't take place until 2014.

For mobile device users: What should P.E.I. do with its provincial parks?