Survey supports group’s call for more B.C. Parks funding

A new survey reveals that British Columbians want the government to increase funding for B.C. Parks at a time when more people are seeking opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The online survey of 1,000 people, conducted by the B.C. chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, found that 91 per cent of respondents were as likely or more likely to visit a provincial park this year compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventy-three per cent supported increased funding for B.C. Parks.

CPAWS-BC spokeswoman Tori Ball said the society wants the B.C. government to use some of the $1.5 billion it is planning to spend to support the economy in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak to improve the park system.

“(It’s) a no brainer,” she said. “Decisions are being made right now about how B.C. will spend $1.5 billion in economic stimulus funding. This is a huge opportunity for the province to recognize the value of parks for the province’s health and economy.”

The B.C. Parks website crashed last Monday when bookings opened at 7 a.m. as 50,000 people tried to reserve a campsite.

A Ministry of Environment statement said that while government staff made efforts to be ready for the demands, the 35,000 reservations made Monday before lunch exceeded all expectations. On the same day last year, there were 1,100 reservations processed over the entire day.

In late March, all B.C. Parks locations and campsites were closed in an effort to halt the spread of COVID-19. While provincial guidelines have begun to ease in recent weeks, travel outside B.C. remains ill-advised, prompting many residents to look inward for opportunities to travel.

According to B.C. Parks, the province has 10,700 vehicle-accessible campsites and about 2,000 walk-in or backcountry campsites. As part of its continuing campsite expansion program, the province added 180 new campsites across B.C. this year, with 1,200 new campsites added since 2017.

But outdoor advocates believe the province has fallen behind on maintaining and funding the existing park system as the demand for recreation opportunities increase.

“Consistent underfunding of B.C. Parks over decades has created long-standing issues with failing and unsafe infrastructure,” said Bruce Passmore, executive director of CPAWS-BC. “Under-resourced and overworked staff has left parks ill-equipped to handle a surge in visitors at the best of times.”

In a news release in early May, Passmore said the B.C. Parks budget was effectively reduced by four per cent this year. “The current public health crisis has put a spotlight on these long-standing issues,” he said. “It has highlighted the urgent need for the province to invest in B.C. Parks to carefully plan for improving visitor safety and the conservation of nature in these places we love.”

Ball said parks present affordable and accessible opportunities for people to spend time outdoors, which has consistently been a top recommendation from B.C.’s provincial health officer.

“Concerns for the health of our parks are becoming increasingly connected with concerns for the health of British Columbians,” she said.