Revamping park pages: A fresh look for BC Parks
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In today’s digital age, BC Parks’ online presence is essential in bridging the gap between people and nature. Whether planning a weekend hike or a family picnic, the first stop is often the park’s webpage. To ensure this initial experience is both welcoming and informative, it’s crucial that our park pages are easy to navigate and provide people with the information they need, quickly and efficiently.
In January 2023, we launched a new version of bcparks.ca, and since then, we’ve continued to gather user feedback and make updates. This past month, we rolled out another significant update, focusing on a complete redesign of our park pages. The goal? To make it simpler for people to find the information they need before exploring BC Parks.
We’re excited to share some of the improvements you’ll notice when visiting bcparks.ca, and especially the Find a Park pages.
Here’s what’s new:
New header: key information at a glance
Positioned at the very top of the page, our new header is designed to be the first thing people see on park pages, offering essential information that can influence their decision to visit the park. The revamped header includes:
- Location information: A quick reference to the park’s region, with an option to view the location on a detailed map.
- Park status: Instantly visible, showing whether the park is open or closed.
- Operating dates: Clearly displayed, visitors can easily see if the park is open year-round or has specific operating dates.
- Campfire ban alerts: If a campfire ban is in effect, this critical information is front and center.
This section is all about efficiency and convenience, giving visitors everything they need to start planning their trip, at a glance.
User-centered design improvements
Accessibility and design enhancements are at the core of this redesign, ensuring that the park page is not only visually appealing but also functional for all users.
- Colour and icon enhancements: We’ve updated the colour scheme to improve viewing ease, with colours that meet accessibility requirements and enhance the scanning experience. Icon colours have been updated to red (high), yellow (medium), and blue (low) to convey the urgency of advisories. Icon shapes have also been redesigned to make them more recognizable and easier to find quickly.
- User-friendly language: Based on design research sessions, we’ve updated the terminology and language used on the site to be more user-friendly. For example, “Parks and Activity Maps” is now simply “Maps and Location,” making it easier for all user groups to understand.
- WCAG 2.1 AA standards: We’ve maintained our commitment to accessibility by adhering to WCAG 2.1 AA standards, the industry gold standard and a specific commitment under BC Parks’ Commitment to Inclusion. This ensures that our site is accessible to everyone, including those with different abilities.
Enhanced key information: opening dates and gate times
Enhanced key information: opening dates and gate times
Based on user feedback, we’ve introduced new information to help visitors know when to visit:
- Gate opening dates and times: We’ve added specific dates and times for when park gates open, giving visitors a clear understanding of when they can access each park. With over 1,000 parks and protected areas in our network, we’ve initially focused on park-wide gate times. Be sure to check out the “Coming Soon” section for our future plans!
Simplified contact information
We’ve also made significant improvements to the contact information section. During User Research sessions, participants often found it confusing to determine who to contact with specific questions. To address this, changes include:
- Streamlined layout: The contact section is now simplified for clarity, making it easier for users to find the appropriate contact for their inquiries. Previously, contact information was found under the “Learn about this park” section, where now, it can be found under its own “Contact” section.
- Additional contact details: We’ve added more specific contact information so visitors can get their questions answered more efficiently, whether it’s about reservations, frontcountry camping and facilities, backcountry, or general inquiries. These changes will be rolling out gradually, so keep an eye out as they become available across the site!
Coming soon: even more features to enhance your park experience
This is just the beginning! We’re looking into implementing additional features in the near future that will make planning your park visits even easier, including:
- Recommended parks nearby: We’re exploring a feature that suggests nearby parks based on your location, making it simple to find new places to explore.
- Gate times for campgrounds and sub-areas: We’ll be adding detailed gate times for all campgrounds and day-use areas within the parks, so visitors know exactly when they can access different areas of the park.
- Streamlined information: We’re further rewriting our park pages based on our findings in user research settings, to ensure visitors get all the essential details quickly and easily.
- Cellphone service information: Option to view cellphone coverage on the BC Parks map, and eventually have park pages include details about cellphone coverage, so visitors can stay connected when it’s needed.
- EV charging stations: Option to view EV charging station locations on the BC Parks map, to help visitors plan eco-friendly trips.
The redesign of the park page is more than just a visual upgrade; it’s a comprehensive enhancement that improves functionality and accessibility, aimed at getting visitors information quickly. We’re thrilled to bring these changes to life and look forward to continuing to enhance how visitors explore and connect with BC Parks. Stay tuned for more updates, and happy adventuring!
