Summary

• In 2026, $350,000 from the Community Park Enhancement Fund will help support more than 100 community-led projects in B.C.
• The projects focus on conservation or recreation in parks and protected areas, and involve collaboration with Indigenous partners, community groups, volunteers, academic researchers and non-profit organizations
• The funding is made possible through revenue generated by BC Parks licence plate sales

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Trail improvements, ecosystem restoration and accessibility enhancements are among the more than 100 community-led projects that will receive support through the BC Parks Licence Plate Program.

In 2026, $350,000 from the Community Park Enhancement Fund will help support projects focused on conservation and recreation in parks and protected areas throughout B.C. The funding is made possible through revenue generated by BC Parks licence plate sales.

“The Community Park Enhancement Fund empowers local organizations, volunteers and Indigenous partners to identify and lead small projects that make a difference for the people who frequently use and help steward parks,” said Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks. “For nearly a decade, the BC Parks Licence Plate Program has helped fund meaningful improvements in parks across the province. These community-led projects demonstrate the power of partnerships in making parks more inclusive, welcoming and sustainable for everyone.”

Projects focus on conservation or recreation

The Community Park Enhancement Fund began in 2013, with projects delivered in collaboration with Indigenous partners, community groups, volunteers, academic researchers and non-profit organizations.

Some of the projects have focused on invasive species management and removal, habitat and wildlife monitoring, trail improvements and maintenance, education and interpretive signage, ecosystem restoration, accessibility enhancements, youth engagement programs, and more.

Projects led by dedicated partners

In Tetrahedron Park near Sechelt, volunteers from the Tetrahedron Outdoor Club have contributed thousands of hours to maintaining the park’s four backcountry cabins and extensive trail network. The park is one of B.C.’s most accessible alpine wilderness areas and the largest on the Sunshine Coast.

Funding from the Community Park Enhancement Fund will support several trail upgrades that include replacing a collapsed bridge on the Mount Steele Cabin Trail, rebuilding steep steps at the Steele Creek bridge and installing a new boardwalk near Tannis Lake to address erosion, exposed roots and muddy sections. Construction materials will be flown into the park by helicopter while club volunteers provide the labour.

“Park-enhancement funds have been very important to the Tetrahedron Outdoor Club,” said Michael Wilson, club treasurer, Tetrahedron Outdoor Club. “They have allowed us to undertake much-needed trail repairs in Tetrahedron Provincial Park, protecting sensitive environments and enhancing safety for trail users. With materials costs constantly increasing, these funds play a critical role for clubs like ours.”

Funding supports wide range of initiatives

The complete list of projects that will receive funding is available here: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcparksblog/.

Other projects include:

• Weekly community hikes and bikes in various parks around Smithers: Hosted by the Telkwa Outdoors for All Society, the program introduces diverse community members to accessible, low-impact outdoor recreation while promoting trail safety, environmental awareness and respect for protected natural areas.
• Monitoring western screech owls on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland: The Pacific Megascops Research Alliance is entering the final phase of a multi-year western screech owl project in Golden Ears Park, Carmanah Walbran Park, Strathcona Park, Schoen Lake Park and Lower Tsitika River Park. Bioacoustics data from 44 monitoring stations will help identify populations of western screech owl and other rare nocturnal wildlife. The data will be used to better understand the decline of western screech owls in B.C.

The BC Parks Licence Plate Program is managed through a partnership between the Province and ICBC, with motorists choosing one of three specialty plate designs depicting scenes from B.C.’s parks and protected areas.

All net proceeds from the sale and renewals of the specialty plates are reinvested into provincial parks through the Park Enhancement Fund, an account that supports the delivery of priority programs and services in provincial parks, complementing and sustaining the broader parks system.

Learn More:

• To learn more about the BC Parks Licence Plate Program and how to purchase a licence plate, visit: https://bcparks.ca/get-involved/buy-licence-plate/
• To view the most recent licence plate program impact report, visit: https://nrs.objectstore.gov.bc.ca/kuwyyf/bc_parks_lpp_annual_report_2024_25_938b8f66fb.pdf
• For more information about BC Parks, visit: https://bcparks.ca/