Alberta Parks

Decision to Deregulate and Transfer
Horseshoe Canyon Provincial Recreation Area

 Updated: June 4, 2010

In October 2009, Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation proposed deregulating and transferring Horseshoe Canyon Provincial Recreation Area to Kneehill County for its continued operation as a public recreation site. A portion of the provincial recreation area would be transferred to Alberta Transportation due the realignment of Highway 9. Feedback was gathered during a 60 day online public comment period that ended December 12, 2009. The province took all comments into consideration before making a decision. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback.

What We Heard

  • The majority of responses supported the proposed transfer of the site.

Concern:

  • Concern that the transfer may result in the degradation of the ecological values of the site.
  • Concern that the County may not have the funds to maintain the site in the long term and that the land could be sold at a future date.
  • Concern that inappropriate uses of the site such as helicopter tours should be removed.

Response:

  • As a former Alberta Transportation highway wayside, the function of a site like Horseshoe Canyon has been replaced by modern washroom facilities and amenities stations along provincial highways. The site is small, 4.69 hectares, and has limited natural resources. Horseshoe Canyon Provincial Recreation Area has been jointly operated by Kneehill County and the Town of Drumheller since 1999. The transfer will provide them with greater flexibility to offer local and regional recreation and tourism opportunities.
  • A caveat will be placed on the title to ensure that if Kneehill County is no longer running the site for public recreation, the title will be transferred back to the province. The municipality does not have the authority to sell or transfer the site to a third party for any purposes.
  • Any helicopter tours associated with the badlands of the Horseshoe Canyon landform are not connected to the small Horseshoe Canyon Provincial Recreation Area.

Resulting Decision

  • Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation has deregulated Horseshoe Canyon Provincial Recreation Area through an Order-in-Council.
  • The portion of the site needed for the realignment of Highway 9 has been transferred to Alberta Transportation.
  • The remainder of the site has been transferred to Kneehill County.

Background

Horseshoe Canyon PRA is located in south central Alberta within the municipality of Kneehill County. Horseshoe Canyon PRA is a former Alberta Transportation wayside, which currently operates as a day use site providing a local tourism gateway to the badlands and access to the viewpoint on adjacent private land.

As part of the Plan for Parks, TPR has committed to clarifying the park system and providing quality park experiences for all Albertans. The transfer of sites such as Horseshoe Canyon PRA to the municipality provides them with greater flexibility to offer local and regional recreation and tourism opportunities, while allowing TPR to focus resources at sites that can provide greater recreation and/or conservation opportunities at a provincial scale.


*Disclaimer: We thank you for providing your input. Those who submit feedback will not be contacted individually regarding their submission.