Banff 
Photo Credit: Alberta Parks
As part of Alberta Parks optimization, Alberta government has announced that 20 twenty parks will be closed completely or partially to public access in 2020. According to the Alberta government, partial/full closures support cost savings of $5 million identified under Budget 2020.
Revenue from Alberta Parks service fees in 2018-19 was $33.4 million. The revenue is directed back into the parks system to support operations which, in the same fiscal year, cost government $86.1 million.
There will be full and partial site closures with full closure parks cut off to public access. Those parks with partial closures will have either their campgrounds or specific facilities closed to the public, with the remaining park areas open. The remaining park areas of the partially closed parks will have no services including garbage collection and grounds-keeping.
The government also announced that cross-country ski grooming and track setting in Peter Lougheed, Mt. Shark and Kananaskis Village area by Alberta Parks staff will not happen from the fall of 2020. Grooming will continue to occur at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Currently, the government is proposing 164 under utilized parks to be removed from Alberta Parks system with 20 parks to be closed for 2020 season. These 164 sites are proposed to be removed from the parks system and for partnerships with private entities are mainly recreation-focused sites, and many are very small and under-utilized Provincial Recreation Areas.
Online camping reservations for Alberta Parks for 2020 summer season will open on March 10 for comfort camping, March 17 for individual campsites and March 24 for group camping.
Parks to be closed:
Alberta Parks That Are Going To Be Closed Completely:
- Kehiwin Provincial Recreation Area – Glendon
- Running Lake Provincial Recreation Area, Peace River
- Stoney Lake Provincial Recreation Area, Clear Hills County (near Peace River, Northern AB)
- Sulphur Lake Provincial Recreation Area, Sulphur Lake, Clear Hills County
- Little Fish Lake Provincial Park, Dorothy
- Crow Lake Provincial Park, Wandering River – along Highway 63, 130 kilometres south of Fort McMurray and 154 kilometres north of Lac La Biche.
- Bleriot Ferry Provincial Recreation Area, Kneehill County (near Drumheller)
- Greene Valley Provincial Park, Northern Sunrise County (near Peace River)
- Twin Lakes Provincial Recreation Area, County Of Northern Lights (65 km north of Manning on Hwy. 35.)
- Sheep Creek Provincial Recreation Area (Greenview No. 16, 25 km north of Grande Cache on Hwy. 40)
Alberta Parks That Are Going To Be Closed Partially:
- Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre @ Bow Valley Provincial Park
- Elbow Valley Visitor Centre @ Gooseberry Provincial Recreation Area, Bragg Creek
- Comfort Camping @ Dinosaur Provincial Park, a half-hour drive northeast of Brooks – Newell County
- Campground @ Gooseberry Provincial Park Lake, Range Rd 62, Consort
- Campground @ Engstrom Lake Provincial Recreation Area, Chard
- Campground @ Chain Lakes Provincial Recreation Area, 2308 22 St, Nanton
- Campground @ Lawrence Lake Provincial Recreation Area, Lesser Slave River No.124,
- Campground @ Tolman Bridge Campgrounds (East and West) @ Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
- Campground @ Notikewin Provincial Park, 35 km north of Manning on Hwy 35 and 30 m east on Hwy 692.
- Campground @ Smoky River South Provincial Recreation Area, Grande Cache
Map of Alberta Parks Slated for Closure & Proposed Site Partnership
Southern Alberta
©2020 Government of Alberta
Central Alberta
©2020 Government of Alberta
Northern Alberta
©2020 Government of Alberta
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I know this yr, 2020, has been stressful for everyone, not only the government. Taking away or privatizing these campgrounds just takes away some of the pleasures like being outdoors, and puts a bigger strain on everyone now having to travel farther to find a new location. Anything that has ever been privatized only costs the end user more in the long run. I don’t know the usage of these areas, but do not agree with the discussion that has been made. With COVID, people going camping to get away from it all in the future may be the best mental break one gets.
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Oops, “20203”
Publishing year in this article is wrong “20202”
I am a Canadian citizen born and raised in Canada
And a tax payer. My question is, what is the real reason for closing of the parks, that the government has not told us Canadians
I am not happy to hear of any closures of our parks in Alberta. Year 2020 has not been good and add these changes !! Making our own choices smaller when we are encouraged to stay home!!!