{"id":15247,"date":"2022-08-11T13:56:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T20:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/bcparksblog\/?p=15247"},"modified":"2022-10-03T12:52:07","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T19:52:07","slug":"the-evolution-of-bc-parks-day-use-pass-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/bcparksblog\/2022\/08\/11\/the-evolution-of-bc-parks-day-use-pass-program\/","title":{"rendered":"The evolution of BC Parks Day-Use Pass Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Home<\/a>\n \n The evolution of BC Parks Day-Use Pass Program\n <\/span>\n
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The evolution of BC Parks Day-Use Pass Program<\/h1>\n
BC Parks News<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n
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BC Parks exists to protect our province\u2019s diverse network of incredible natural environments while providing safe and sustainable outdoor recreation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BC Parks hosts a lot of people \u2013 millions, each year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visitation to parks is increasing significantly, specifically in popular parks close to urban areas. While this is encouraging, the increase in visitors has challenged our mission to balance safe outdoor recreation with the preservation of our parks\u2019 cultural and natural features that local wildlife call home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This high visitation is overwhelming our park services and infrastructure in many popular parks. And, because the expansion and construction of new facilities takes time, consultation, and careful consideration, increased demand is leading to crowding across the province. This leads to less desirable visitor experiences and continued impact on the natural and cultural features that parks are put in place to protect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We face the complex challenge of striking an appropriate balance among the interests of public recreation and protecting the environment as the public\u2019s desire to spend time in parks increases. \u00a0BC Parks is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and this is a fundamental principle for planning around public recreation and visitor management in protected areas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Crowding can lead to negative visitor experiences for people, especially in parks highlighting a wilderness experience.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Excessive crowding on trails causes park visitors to disperse off trails to move around one another. This leads to trail braiding and vegetation trampling as shown in this picture. This is damaging to conservation values.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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When parking is limited and demand exceeds capacity, this can lead to people parking along a highway, creating safety concerns.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Day-Use Pass Program\u2019s introduction and role<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visitor Use Management is a proactive way of managing the impact of visitor activities in parks. It involves several potential strategies such as changing the way people interact with parks, increasing the park\u2019s ability to handle use, and sometimes limiting use. Specific management actions include education campaigns, enforcement of prohibited behaviour such as littering, modifying trail infrastructure and design to keep visitors from trampling vegetation, and requiring visitor passes for entering parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last few years, BC Parks has been exploring visitor use management as a tool to improve recreational and ecological conditions at parks. First, in 2018 and in collaboration with Lil\u2019wat Nation and N\u2019Quatqua, BC Parks initiated the development of a visitor use management strategy<\/a> at Joffre Lakes Park to combat extreme crowding and overuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, in 2020, the Day-Use Pass Pilot Program was launched as part of BC Parks\u2019 response to managing risks and physical distancing requirements associated with Covid-19. In 2021, the Joffre Lakes Park Visitor Use Management Strategy was completed, formalizing the use of the day-use pass at Joffre Lakes Park. At other day-use pass parks, it had become evident that the day-use pass, while initially used to reduce Covid-19 risks, was an effective way to improve the visitor experience by reducing crowding on trails, vehicle lineups, and parking lot overflows. Since then, the program<\/a> has continued seasonally at parks where it assists our agency in maintaining British Columbia\u2019s natural environments.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re constantly adjusting and improving <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the launch of the Day-Use Pass Program, our approach has consistently been directed by public feedback, staff consultation, and research. With 2020 acting as a baseline, we targeted improvement opportunities wherever possible in 2021 and 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In summer 2021, we teamed up with the BC Parks Foundation with an aim to provide increased education through the introduction of to facilitate the program in each participating park. We didn\u2019t just focus on the in\u2013park experience, though; we also wanted to make sure the booking experience was seamless and fit your needs. Based on your feedback, we extended the booking window and started it later in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In winter 2021, we expanded the program to Mount Seymour Park, which annually hosts over 600,000 people between December and March. The introduction of pass requirements for day-use visitors reduced congestion and increased parking predictability. In light of the increased planning required to book a day-use pass, we also wanted to acknowledge that plans change. With that in mind, we introduced a cancellation feature that returns your pass back into the pool for others to reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, since the program\u2019s initial launch, we have committed to adjusting, improving, and evaluating how well the program helps BC Parks support our key goals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n