Whereas provincial parks serve a vital recreational, cultural, social and economic role in the lives of many British Columbians; And whereas the Province of BC closes many of its parks to campers in September each year, limiting the ability of British Columbians access to those parks at a time of year when they continue to be functionally usable: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to extend the season for all provincial parks, including campgrounds, by keeping them open until the end of October to enable the access to parks for all visitors to enjoy these recreational benefits for a longer period and to encourage healthy and active lifestyles.
Ministry of Environment and Parks The provincial government is interested in supporting local governments in exploring ways to maintain access to BC provincial parks and camping opportunities within the province. Operating dates are determined primarily by peak season demands but are also based on factors including past attendance data, weathersnow melt and park accessibility. Regular operating seasons for BC Parks the dates in which parks are open and accessible to the public are outlined in contractual agreements held with Park Operators who manage campgrounds and day use parks on behalf of BC Parks. These are mandatory dates that the park must be opened unless there is an emergency or extreme event. Annually, Park Operators may propose to extend the operating season; however, it is often not financially feasible for them to do so as the parks do not generate enough revenue to support their operation. In the current fiscal climate, any decision to extend dates would, of necessity, have to be financially self-sustaining. While many Park Operators choose to operate additional dates, some are unable due to high costs and lower visitation, facility readiness, weather, andor access to the park. Some services may be reduced during the shoulder season to offset these costs, however there are several requirements a Park Operator must fulfill to ensure the park is safe for visitors, often resulting in high costs. BC Parks reviews each proposal to ensure these requirements can be met before approving any additional dates. Where possible, BC Parks offers extended season camping opportunities, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping opportunities within an extended season may have limited services. For example, BC Parks shuts down some services such as water and sani-stations to preserve the integrity of these facilities during periods of low use and high risk of overnight freezing temperatures. Currently, there are many sites across the province that offer year-round or extended season access, either for front or back country camping, trails and hiking, marine recreation, and more. The information provided by UBCM will be shared with the program area responsible and taken into consideration alongside other factors when considering the feasibility of extended seasons in specific parks.