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Province halts Alberta Parks closures, keeping 17 sites open

Jun 24, 2020 | 9:04 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The Alberta government has stopped the closure of 17 provincial parks.

Earlier this year, 20 parks were earmarked for either full or partial closures this season, with management being handed off to third parties.

READ MORE: Province looking to optimize parks system

However, the COVID-19 information page on Alberta Parks’ website has been quietly updated, with the province saying 17 of the sites previously identified for closure this season will in fact operate.

The notice cited challenges faced by Albertans due to COVID-19 as a reason for the decision.

“We want to give Albertans more opportunities to camp and connect with nature over the summer as we all recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Parks said.

“This is a temporary measure for this camping season.”

15 sites set for overnight camping use are:

· Stoney Lake Provincial Recreation Area – opened June 1 as first-come, first-served

· Sulphur Lake Provincial Recreation Area – opened June 1 as first-come, first-served

· Twin Lakes Provincial Recreation Area – opened June 1 as first-come, first-served

· Notikewin Provincial Park – campground – opened June 1 as first-come, first-served

· Running Lake Provincial Recreation Area – opened June 1 as first-come, first-served

· Sheep Creek Provincial Recreation Area – opened on Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca for June 15 arrivals

· Smoky River South Provincial Recreation Area – campground – opened June 15 as first-come, first-served

· Crow Lake Provincial Park – opened on Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca for June 19 arrivals

· Kehiwin Lake Provincial Recreation Area – opened on Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca for June 19 arrivals

· Chain Lakes Provincial Recreation Area – campground – opened June 19 as first-come, first-served

· Lawrence Lake Provincial Recreation Area – campground – opened June 19 as first-come, first-served

· Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park – Tolman Bridge Campgrounds (East & West) – opens June 29 as first-come, first-served

· Bleriot Ferry Provincial Recreation Area – opens June 29 as first-come, first-served

· Gooseberry Lake Provincial Park – campground – June 29 (still to be confirmed)

· Little Fish Lake Provincial Park – June 29 (to be confirmed) as first-come, first-served

Two sites for day-use are:

· Engstrom Lake Provincial Recreation Area – opened June 1 for day-use

· Greene Valley Provincial Park – opened June 1 for day-use

Alberta Parks says temporary access restrictions to some facilities like showers remain in place. Playgrounds are and will be open where ‘operationally feasible’.

Additionally, tenters will be permitted in Alberta Parks and to reduce cash handling, Parks says campgrounds on Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca will continue to be 100 percent reservable.

Many of the sites in the system are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and do not require a reservation. Outhouses, dump stations and fish cleaning stands will be available.

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