Alberta's Plan for Parks

Alberta's Plan for Parks

 Updated: August 17, 2011

Alberta's Plan for Parks 2009-2019 - An Update - August 17, 2011

Two years into Alberta's 10 year Plan for Parks and significant progress has been made on the new vision for Alberta's provincial parks:

Alberta's parks inspire people to discover, value, protect, and enjoy the natural world and the benefits it provides for current and future generations.

The Plan for Parks will help ensure the sustainability of our natural landscapes and enhance recreational opportunities for Albertans. The plan aligns with the province's Land-use Framework, and is playing a key role in achieving our objectives for responsible land use in Alberta.

Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation is embarking on several initiatives over the next decade, many of which are already underway. Key accomplishments since its release on April 20, 2009 include:

  • Since 2010, the Alberta parks system has grown by approximately 990 hectares.
    • Expansions included Glenbow Ranch, Sir Winston Churchill and Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Parks, and Fish Lake and Simonette River Provincial Recreation Areas.
    • In Alberta, we have some of the largest urban parks in the country, including our North Saskatchewan River Valley Park System which is the largest in Canada.
    • Lois Hole Centennial, Fish Creek and Glenbow Ranch provincial parks are among the largest urban parks in Canada.
    • 300 campsites added in provincial park campgrounds in 2010-2011.
    • Currently, there are nearly 14,000 campsites in 250 provincial campgrounds.
  • Online campsite reservationsavailable at 51 provincial campgrounds in 2011.
    • Nearly 200,000 accounts and nearly 300,000 reservation transactions.
    • Expanded to Little Bow Provincial Park in 2011.
    • Adding accessible campsites throughout the province, and making the sites available for online reservations to ensure everyone can enjoy park facilities.
  • New park trails across Alberta allow people of all ages and abilities to enjoy recreation and physical activities to help them lead healthier, more active lives.
    • 70 km of backcountry trails cleared in Willmore Wilderness Park in 2010-11 in cooperation with the Willmore Wilderness Foundation.
    • 30 km of new trails built in 2009-10.
    • New grooming report first of its kind in North America - Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park combines GPS technology with its grooming machines to present a real-time trail report.

  • Albertans take an active role in Alberta parks through online public consultations.
    • 11 consultations, involving 15 different sites in 2010-11.
    • Examples include proposed facility redevelopment, park expansions, trails and park management plans.
    • More than 500 Albertans subscribe to ParkNews to be notified of new consultations.

  • Alberta scientists play a larger role in parks research through the Alberta Parks Division Science Strategy that supports evidence-based decision-making relating to the management of parks.
    • Research partnerships with post-secondary institutions include Augustana Campus/ University of Alberta, Lakeland College and University of Calgary.
    • The number of research and collection permits issued in parks doubled from 64 in 2009 to 124 in 2010. 

  • Everyone belongs outside and work is underway on an inclusion strategy to remove physical barriers in new and existing parks facilities, as well introducing new Canadians to our provincial parks and bridging language barriers.
    • Push to Open Nature: In partnership with the new Push to Open Nature Society, two Adaptive Challenges will be hosted in provincial parks in 2011.

  • Volunteer parks programs expanded with 2500 Albertans volunteering more than 100,000 hours of their time to assist with parks programs.
  • Alberta students can now take virtual field trips to provincial parks through an educational video-conference program that ensures parks are accessible to all Albertans.
    • YouTube videos showcase new park programs and experiences, and Twitter and Facebook are used to share public safety updates, avalanche warnings and trail conditions for some parks.

What is the Plan for Parks

The Plan for Parks PDF Document is intended to be a blueprint to guide decisions for managing parks. This long-term plan will help to ensure the sustainability of our natural landscapes, enhance recreational opportunities and help to improve the quality of life for Albertans.

Albertans have a deep connection to the land and over the next ten years, our focus will be on achieving the vision of the Plan for Parks PDF Document:

"Alberta's parks inspire people to discover, value, protect and enjoy the natural
world and the benefits it provides for current and future generations."


How was the Plan for Parks Developed

Developing the Plan for Parks PDF Documentwas a collaborative process. It is based on extensive consultations with Aboriginal groups, stakeholder organizations, park visitors, MLAs, government staff and others. The result is a plan that changes the way Alberta's parks are managed.


What are the Next Steps?

Under the Plan for Parks PDF Document, the province will work with Albertans to determine the most appropriate ways to manage parks in their communities so that decisions are based on what Albertans want and on what science tells us is good for the land. There are several priority actions highlighted in the Plan for Parks PDF Document.

Under the Plan for Parks PDF Document, improvements to the parks system will make it easier for visitors to understand what kinds of experiences are available in the different kinds of parks. An online campground reservation system was launched in 2009, and when upgrades and additions are planned to campgrounds, facilities, and programs, they will be made safe, modern and accessible to all Albertans. These changes will make it easier for Albertans and visitors to better plan their park experiences.

Reducing the impact on the land and protecting the environment with science-based research and better management plans is a priority of the Plan for Parks PDF Document. Through regional planning processes of the Land-use Framework, the province will work to secure new parkland to fill gaps in Alberta's protected areas network.
Safe and responsible recreation opportunities and policies will also be identified through the Plan for Parks PDF Document.


April 20, 2009 - Government Announces Release of Alberta's Plan for Parks:


Media inquiries may be directed to:

Camille Weleschuk
Public Affairs Officer
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation
780-427-2206
camille.weleschuk@gov.ab.ca