A new draft of the province's Plan for Parks has been created, but the province wants more input.
The Plan for Parks is a strategic direction for recreation and conservation of sites managed under the Provincial Parks Act, and includes provincial parks, provincial recreation areas, and wildland provincial parks.
It was originally launched in 2009 as a 10-year plan, and with this new plan, the provincial government wants to make sure it helps support the priorities of park visitors while also maintaining the natural and cultural heritage of the parks.
The first round of engagement for this new plan was completed in the summer of 2024, where they collected feedback from Albertans about their perspectives, priorities, and needs, which helped to create the Plan for Parks draft.
Now that the first draft is complete, they are doing a second round of engagement, which will provide input on the draft plan.
This plan will provide a vision for the future, as well as set out goals, outcomes, and supporting actions that will guide the management of sites.
It will also support the growing of recreation opportunities for park visitors, address challenges, support navigating decisions that involve diverse and occasionally competing needs in the parks system, and support nature-based recreation and camping opportunities while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of the province's parks system in an environmentally responsible way.
Through this plan, it will shape how people now and in the future visit and enjoy provincial parks, as well as ensure the province can meet challenges as they arise from increasing pressures and the growing demand of existing and new activities.
As part of this round of engagement, there is an online survey people can complete before July 26, which should take less than 15 minutes.
To learn more about the draft and take the survey, click here.