From improving wheelchair accessibility in Haida Gwaii to removing invasive plant species in the Kootenays, parks will benefit from more than $900,000 in funding from the Province and communities across B.C. to mark BC Parks' 100th anniversary.

BC Parks is providing $450,000 to community groups through the Community Legacy Fund to support improvements to 27 parks across the province. To be eligible for funding, community groups were required to contribute to the project either with financial or in-kind contributions. Groups receiving funding through the program are contributing a total of nearly $470,000 in cash and in-kind support for a total project value of nearly $920,000.

The Community Legacy Program provides up to $20,000 per project for work such as trail enhancements, improvements that support recreational activities or conservation of the park's ecology or cultural history. In May, community groups around B.C. with connections to their local parks were invited to apply for funding through the program, established as part of BC Parks centennial celebrations. Special events are being held in parks across the province, all year long, as BC Parks honours 100 years of conservation and recreation.

Quick Facts:

• The Community Legacy Fund was administered by the BC Conservation Foundation on behalf of BC Parks. Adjudicators evaluated whether applicants had a clear plan for making the improvement to the park this year, whether they were able to provide in-kind or cash contributions, whether they had an established partnership with the park, and finally whether the proposed improvement was consistent with the park management plan. Adjudicators also ensured each region of B.C. was reflected in the successful applicants.
• Parking fees were eliminated from B.C. parks on May 3 to help make them more accessible and inviting to families.
• With 13.6 per cent of the province is set aside as parks and protected areas, B.C. has the second largest park system in Canada - second only to the national park system.

Learn More:

Find out more about BC Parks 100 celebrations around the province at: www.bcparks.ca.

Connect with BC Parks on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/YourBCParks.

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Suntanu Dalal
Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 387-9745

BACKGROUNDER

Community Legacy Program Recipients

PROVINCEWIDE

Climbers Access Society: $14,000

Various parks - Sustainable human waste management in remote areas

Friends of Ecological Reserves: $19,000

Various parks - documentation and education materials including video and improved website

KOOTENAY/OKANAGAN

West Kootenay EcoSociety: $19,000

Kokanee Creek Provincial Park - Upgrades and information displays

Federation of B.C. Naturalists: $16,000

South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area, Vaseux Lake Provincial Park, Haynes Provincial Park - Interpretive signs in bird areas

Canadian Avalanche Centre: $19,000

Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, Stagleap Provincial Park, West Arm Provincial Park - Avalanche terrain exposure ratings

Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Council: $10,000

Kokanee Creek Provincial Park - Stopping the spread of invasive plants

The Alpine Club of Canada: $19,000

Elk Lakes Provincial Park - Renovating cabins to increase capacity.

Sovereign lake Nordic Club: $15,000

Silver Star Mountain Provincial Park - Upgrade and install signage

South Okanagan Invasive Plant Society: $16,000

South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Areas - Invasive plant management

Friends of Fintry Park: $19,000

Fintry Provincial Park - Restore staff quarters

NORTHERN B.C.

Fraser River Youth Society: $19,000

West Twin Provincial Park - Replacing six foot bridges

School District 57, Prince George Aboriginal Education: $19,500

Eskers Provincial Park - Ethnobotany tour signage

SOUTH COAST

North Shore Wetland Partners: $19,500

Cypress Provincial Park - wetland restoration

Ducks Unlimited: $19,000

Pitt Polder Ecological Reserve - vegetation and bog management

Greater Vancouver Invasive Plant Council: $ 19,000

Cypress Provincial Park, Seymour Provincial Park, Indian Arm Provincial Park - control and inventory hogweed and knotweed

Powell River Model Community Project for Persons with Disabilities: $19,000

Inland Lake Provincial Park - Refurbish two wheelchair accessible cabins

BC Conservation Foundation: $9,100

Silver Lake Provincial Park - Steelhead spawning gravel replacement

Thompson/Cariboo

Friends of Churn Creek: $18,000

Churn Creek Provincial Park - Design and build information kiosk

Shuswap Hut and Trail Alliance: $12,000

Yard Creek Provincial Park - nature trail repair

Lytton First Nation: $19,000

Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux - Cultural Heritage Education Program

WEST COAST

Galiano Conservancy Association: $17,000

Montague Harbour Marine Park - Cultural celebrations

Canadian Cave Conservancy: $18,000

Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park - Ecological and recreational enhancements

Old Massett Village Council: $19,000

Naikoon Provincial Park - Wheelchair access from boardwalk

SeaChange Marine Society: $15,000

Gowlland Tod Provincial Park - Restoration of plants and signage

Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere: $10,700

Various parks - interpretive signage for Mount Arrowsmith

Conservancy Hornby Island: $12,200

Helliwell Provincial Park - Holly removal

Cetus Research and Conservation Society: $19,000

Qwiquallaag/Boat Bay Provincial Park - Robson Bight warden camp improvements

Contact:

Suntanu Dalal
Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 387-9745