Alberta’s new Plan for Parks sets a clear, long-term vision for recreation and conservation in provincial parks, helping ensure the provincial parks system remains strong and sustainable now and into the future. In addition, the new Crown Land Recreation and Conservation Strategy co-ordinates efforts to expand outdoor recreation responsibly, while still meeting conservation goals and supporting local communities.
“We know how much Alberta’s outdoor spaces mean to families, outdoor enthusiasts and communities across our province, and both Alberta's new Plan for Parks, and the Crown Land Recreation and Conservation Strategy reflect those values. With these new plans, we can better reflect both current and future activities on Crown lands and ensure that recreation and camping continue to grow in a way that supports Albertans and their needs while conserving our wild spaces.”
“We’re pleased to see the Government of Alberta taking meaningful steps to strengthen the parks, recreation and conservation framework across the province. This collaborative approach reflects what TIAA’s research and advocacy has emphasized for years: that outdoor recreation is not only vital to Alberta’s way of life, but also a powerful driver of economic growth, job creation and community well-being. By investing in recreation infrastructure and prioritizing access to our Crown lands, Alberta is unlocking the full potential of its outdoor recreation economy for residents and visitors alike.”
“The Government of Alberta is making it clear they are focused on responsible management of our public lands while creating more high-quality trail opportunities for Albertans.”
The Plan for Parks focuses on the 305 parks managed under the Provincial Parks Act, including 78 provincial parks, 193 provincial recreation areas, and 34 wildland provincial parks. The Crown Land Recreation and Conservation Strategy encompasses public lands across the province.
Managing growth, meeting needs
Albertans have been involved since the early stages of both strategies, helping address new challenges such as increasing visitation pressures and growing demand for existing and new activities. Public engagement on the draft Plan for Parks showed strong support, with 86 per cent of respondents agreeing that its goals support the long-term sustainability of Alberta's provincial parks system.
Together, these strategies build on Alberta’s ongoing commitment to responsibly balance land-uses on Crown lands. They support the sustainable growth of recreation opportunities for parks visitors, such as adding campsites and improving access for activities like kayaking and canoeing, while ensuring important natural areas and landscapes remain protected. Well-managed Crown lands strengthen Alberta’s economy, protect the environment and support the social and cultural well-being of all Albertans by providing diverse outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the province.
To support this work, Alberta’s government is investing more than $236 million to improve and expand recreation in and access to provincial parks and Crown land across the province. Investing in high-quality outdoor recreation, including trail planning, helps achieve conservation goals like improving habitat and water quality, while also minimizing impacts to the landscape and promoting human-wildlife co-existence.
Quick facts
- Alberta’s population has increased almost 35 per cent since the first Plan for Parks launched in 2009.
- More than 6,700 surveys from Albertans were completed during the Plan for Parks public engagement to help inform the final plan.
- For the Crown Land Recreation and Conservation Strategy, Alberta’s government held targeted online webinars in 2023-24 for partners in conservation, recreation, hunting and fishing, municipalities, and tourism sectors.
- The Crown Land Recreation and Conservation Strategy is focused on public land while also supporting the continued responsible management of wilderness areas, ecological reserves, natural areas, and heritage rangelands, along with Willmore Wilderness Park.
- The current value of Alberta’s provincial parks to the provincial economy is close to $1 billion in GDP, $400 million in labour income and almost 9,000 jobs per year.
Related information
Related news
- Have your say in the creation of a new Plan for Parks (June 19, 2024)