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We're all saturated with politics these days, but if you'll indulge me, I'm pretty bummed about @Albertaparks closing or removing about 20,000 hectares from the system in a time when parks facilities are getting busier and more crowded.
The cost savings are pretty marginal (est. $5M), which is equivalent to about 2 months of war room tomfoolery. Most of these sites are essentially picnic tables, outhouses, parking/pull-outs, and staging areas.
The release states "Sites proposed to be removed from the parks system are very small and under-utilized Provincial Recreation Areas and would be available for partnership opportunities or alternative management approaches."
This is a flawed argument to me because 1) if the use is small, then the cost should also be small,
2) Parks aren't just for recreation, they also exist for conservation and minimizing human impacts in the area (and they certainly don't exist to make money!)
2) Parks aren't just for recreation, they also exist for conservation and minimizing human impacts in the area (and they certainly don't exist to make money!)
Anyways, the full list of impacted areas can be found here. https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/6496183/parks-impacted-list.pdf
Every Albertan will have stories of their favourite spots, but I remember camping every May-long at Etherington Creek with my dad and hiding out under the tarp from the inevitable weekend snow.
Every Albertan will have stories of their favourite spots, but I remember camping every May-long at Etherington Creek with my dad and hiding out under the tarp from the inevitable weekend snow.
Highwood Junction has been getting more popular in recent years. It's a great spot for road bikers to stage before HWY 40 opens in the spring. Not unusual to see +40 cars parked here in May. Great hiking nearby too. Unclear to me how it's "under-utilized".
Mist Ridge, accessed from Mist Creek Provincial Recreation Area, has always been a popular horse and backpacking area, but has become a bit of a trail-running hotspot in recently. It's pretty easy to see why.
Picklejar/Lantern/Lineham area is great for hiking and Picklejar Lakes have become a premier hike and larch-viewing spot, as well as fishing (like catching pickles in a jar!). Lots of cars parked at Lantern Creek PRA in september and tons of picknickers all summer.
Anyways, I finally got around to writing a letter to my MLA and the Environment & Parks. Here it is.
I encourage anyone thinking about this to send a letter. In addition to feeling good, the process of writing a letter really forces you to think critically about the issue.
on top of all that, there's many other things we can do: https://twitter.com/Aerin_J/status/1269411409336528896?s=20
https://twitter.com/annaliseak/status/1270166741310554112?s=21 https://twitter.com/AnnaliseAK/status/1270166741310554112
https://twitter.com/dmayhood/status/1270865594506571776?s=21 excellent point about not only needed parks but needing an integrated parks system; something more difficult to achieve with private partners. https://twitter.com/dmayhood/status/1270865594506571776
On a Monday no less! https://twitter.com/KananaskisTrail/status/1272659699901427712?s=20
weird how this keeps happening!? https://twitter.com/AlbertaHiking/status/1273024736990302210?s=20
So today was a busy day in the Highwood. https://twitter.com/bestbertwistle/status/1274537858343157760?s=20
like, I'm sorry, I don't know how you look at that video and see anything other than "wow we need more parks"
"If these changes do take place, they will be almost impossible to reverse. We will lose all those places that we hold dear." https://lethbridgeherald.com/commentary/letters-to-the-editor/2020/06/27/protect-albertas-parks-recreation-areas/
https://twitter.com/campbelladam79/status/1278373854486773761?s=21 https://twitter.com/campbelladam79/status/1278373854486773761
https://twitter.com/patagonia/status/1280636966145413123?s=21 https://twitter.com/patagonia/status/1280636966145413123
This looks like a good initiative. Log your activity in these "under-utilized" parks. https://twitter.com/IUseABParks/status/1281632904028667904?s=20
"It seems evident that the proposed clearance sale on provincial parks and recreation areas indicates the architects of this purport to know the cost of everything, but the value of nothing." https://lethbridgeherald.com/commentary/opinions/2020/04/01/the-not-so-great-alberta-parks-clearance-sale/?fbclid=IwAR1up-9ipe0Q0Jb_bgI4zzzFPStOM2LWBy1V7_bdqlwFS2cxKcn7QN9weLQ
https://twitter.com/iuseabparks/status/1285949627808624646?s=21 https://twitter.com/IUseABParks/status/1285949627808624646
"The files refer to getting rid of the parks as an economic development opportunity. Parks should fit within government and ministry goals: “financial sustainability, engage in partnerships, enable economic opportunities, reduce stakeholder irritants.”" https://twitter.com/AlbertaHiking/status/1286313766498361344?s=20
"reduce stakeholder irritants" makes a lot more sense when you consider who this government does (and doesn't) view as stakeholders.
Incredibly maddening. https://twitter.com/CBCFletch/status/1286370475442966529?s=20
https://twitter.com/albertahiking/status/1286683295871193090?s=21 https://twitter.com/AlbertaHiking/status/1286683295871193090
glad our Minister is on the case... https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/parks-across-alberta-seeing-damage-from-overuse-environment-minister-says-1.5668005?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar
Carnarvon Lake is a pretty spot. But it's currently suffering the paradox of being very popular (~20 tents the day we ran through) but also so "under-utilized" that its (also popular) trailhead/picnic area, Cat Creek PRA, is slated to be delisted and removed from the system.
Interesting timing to post this; after a long weekend where these sites undoubtedly got tons of use. (also notable the govt has dropped the "under-utilized" argument since it was demonstrably false) https://twitter.com/Albertaparks/status/1303358217980751872?s=20
https://twitter.com/alanna_smithh/status/1306002019669471232?s=20 Not great! Seems more and more likely the impetus for this is to allow companies to log/mine these areas.
"Parks and protected areas are worth far more to our communities and our province than simple lines on a budget ledger can state" https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-parks-protected-areas-user-fees-privatization-stephen-legault-1.5739821?fbclid=IwAR2AQDTpqaGUUchvb7lP_2TZEx1sDUdPPkALa8tIWx_Vrb0M6j7iOcJX2uY
good to hear a partner has been found for xc-ski grooming. Hopefully similar good news will follow for our ever-popular parks https://twitter.com/SkiHere/status/1322360264683999233?s=20
really good thread on how there is a lack of trust on the parks file with the current AB government. https://twitter.com/bcshaffer/status/1323633317514678273?s=20
Honestly, it may be time for another letter. https://twitter.com/edmontonjournal/status/1329265140882083840?s=20
One more way to let the government know how you feel about parks and public land https://twitter.com/AB_Enviro/status/1333446619421765639?s=20
Gotta say. This kind of think makes is awfully hard to trust the government on this. https://twitter.com/bcshaffer/status/1334501281717600258
