of Canada called Grasslands National Park (west) (SK 024). Frenchman Valley Campground offers visitors serviced camping sites, teepee camping, and a cook shelter. Backcountry camping is also available. The West Block is located in Census Division No. 4. The East Block of the park is located about an hour's drive south of Assiniboia on the south side of the Wood Mountain Hills in Census Division No. 3. The interpretive centre is in the McGowan House at the new Rock Creek Campground and the information centre is at the museum in Wood Mountain Regional Park. The East Block is more of a wilderness area but has views of the badlands of Rock Creek, the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, and prairie skies. A one-lane, parkway traverses the Rock Creek Badlands. The East Block contains the Grasslands National Park (east) (SK 023) Important Bird Area. In 2006, plains bison from Elk Island National Park in Alberta were reintroduced to Grasslands. By 2015 the herd had grown from the original 71 animals to over 300. The herd is maintained on a section in the park's West Block. On 2 October 2009, in a ceremony at Belza House, the park was declared a dark-sky preserve, and a small population of black-footed ferrets was reintroduced into the prairie dog towns after a 70-year absence. Improved night-lighting practices under the dark-sky agreement ensure that the park remains dark at night, preserving a natural environment for all nocturnal wildlife. See also List of National Parks of Canada List of protected areas of Saskatchewan List of protected grasslands of North America Tourism in Saskatchewan References External links The Prairie Learning Centre Grasslands National Park - Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan Grasslands of Canada National parks in Saskatchewan Protected areas established in 1981 Dark-sky preserves in Canada Important Bird Areas of Saskatchewan 1981 establishments in Saskatchewan