Three municipalities in the northeast have partnered with the province to keep three provincial parks open for at least two years — but if the parks lose money, the municipalities will be picking up the tab.

The province has agreed it will keep three parks open under a pilot project. The government had announced it would change the status of eight parks in the northeast to non-operational — a decision that prompted politicians and citizens to speak up.

Three of the parks — Fushimi, near Hearst, and Ivanhoe, near Foleyet as well as Rene Brunelle, near Moonbeam — will remain open under the new agreement.

The partnering municipalities include Hearst, Moonbeam and Timmins. The province said it aims to increase revenue and visitation rates.