In the park, visitors can expect to see changes
EDMONTON For those who venture back to Jasper National Park, this summer things will look a little different.
Arriving at the main gate, guests will be handed a visitor guide via a “reacher” to limit contact and, if needed, day passes will be issued.
The downtown information centre in Jasper remains closed so guests will have to call 780852-6176 to have their questions answered.
Physical-distancing measures are in place — signage is abundant — and people are asked to wear face masks and gloves when distancing is not possible.
People are asked to bring not just their own COVID-19 kits and face masks, but also bring their own toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
The Town of Jasper is seeking to further adapt to the pandemic by installing sanitizer stations along the main street. Businesses are also able to expand out onto sidewalks while also building added boardwalks to allow pedestrians to adhere to physical distancing.
“When this first started some of our hand sanitizer in our washrooms disappeared pretty quickly,” said Steve Young, communications officer with Jasper National Park.
Some of the policies, specifically those surrounding cleaning and hygiene, are likely here to stay.
While the park didn’t see any visitors during the pandemic, the highways themselves remained quite busy as part of an integral transportation corridor for goods travelling east to Edmonton or west to B.C.
“We didn’t (fully) shut down. Some of those washroom facilities like along Highway 16, truckers were depending on those and were, kind of, a vital service,” Young said. “So we were still having to do enough to get by in terms of giving people a chance to go through the transportation corridor and keeping the strategic washrooms open and doing the enhanced cleaning that goes along with that.
“The cleaning crews are doing a really good job and they’ll continue to work on that as we move forward.”
ALL CAMPGROUNDS IN PARK CURRENTLY CLOSED
Young says park officers did issue illegal camping charges during Victoria Day long weekend which led to some road closures to crack down on the problem.
The under-construction Whistlers Campground and its 781 spots will remain closed until 2021. Despite the COVID -19 crisis, construction on the campground is still on track, Young says.
Framing on all new buildings is complete and a large swath of trees has been removed due to the impacts of the mountain pine beetle.
“There are sections of it that are mostly spruce so those sections are going to look real different than the rest because the spruce trees weren’t impacted by the mountain pine beetle,” said Young.
“So you still have some of that traditional growth. But the other ends are much more open than it used to be.”
The park is open to all Canadians but people are advised to check with local health officials before travelling.
“The reality is this year the visitor make-up is going to be heavily Albertan,” Young said. “We’re not going to have that international visitor, they can’t get here, so let’s treat it like the special place of Alberta it truly is.”