Many Provincial Parks in the area will be refurbished thanks to additional government funds.

Banff- Cochrane MLA Cameron Westhead says the provincial government is adding to the contributions made in 2016. The province earmarked $18.7 million this year towards improving amenities in nearly 60 parks and protected areas throughout the Kananaskis region, building on a $9.7-million commitment last year. 

Westhead shares some of the improvements we will see in the Cochrane area. "Big Hill Springs Provincial Park will get a bit of a redevelopment to improve the picnic areas, trail systems, signage, fencing, and parking. The Ghost Airstrip Provincial Recreation Area are getting some upgrades to campground facilities and staging area for off highway vehicles. In Ghost/ Waiparous area there's going to be an assessment done of the trails in the Ghost River Wilderness Area, Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park and the surrounding sheep dormer and Ghost Public Land-Use Zone, so that is a planning study to assess the current trails and do any planning for what may be required in the future. People might be interested in McLean Creek, they will are doing paving in the McLean Creek Campground."

Upgrading and supporting our Provincial Parks is overdue, shares Westhead. "Previous governments left these campgrounds and picnic sites in poor condition and didn't really protect those investments that are important assets to all Albertans and so we wanted to invest and spruce those things up. Albertans love visiting the backcountry and camping and they expect those areas to be in good shape and good repair for having a nice experience and we want to make sure they are kept up in terms of maintenance for Albertans but also tourists across Canada and around the world.

With the extra dollars being spent, recreation users can also expect to see beefed up enforcement to protect the government's investment. "For example, in Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park they are actually going to be developing a backcountry patrol cabin so that they can meet the enforcement and public safety requirments; so that is one of the pieces that is on for redeveolpmnet. Making sure people are treating the areas with respect is an important piece as well."

Westhead did say areas like the Ghost Valley have seen reduced trash in the area. "Compared to last year there was maybe only like 25% of the amount of garbage they picked up last year and they (community group) attribute that to increased enforcement and being able to have officers give tickets on the spot. Also, people are just having more awareness and responsibility in a manner that is consistent toward stewardship."

Other areas around the Cochrane area that will see improvements are:

  • South Ghost Provincial Recreation Area more upgrades to campground facilities and phasing areas.
  • Waiparous Creek Provincial Recreation area upgrades to campground facilities and phasing areas.
  • West Bragg Creek Provincial Recreation Area expanding and paving the parking lot, enhancing trail heads, signage, benches, adding a maintenance area and expanded washrooms.