Title
Lois Hole Provincial Park Update
Proposed Motion
That the Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park (LHCPP) Management Plan Status Report be received for information, as presented.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration is providing an update of the current and future activities as well as collaborative opportunities in the Big Lake and surrounding area related to the Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park Management Plan including the potential Environmental Learning Centre.
Administration is providing the update to be accepted as information and support the proposed recommendations where they can be incorporated with the Trails Strategy Plan and other Parkland County community development or planning services.
Parkland County supports continuing to share information and collaborate where possible to coordinate current and future planning of the Lois Hole Provincial Park Management Plan as per the direction of the March 8, 2022 motion from Council.
Purpose
Administration is providing an update as information as directed in the March 8, 2022 motion from Council.
Summary
In April of 2022 a project plan was developed to facilitate conversations or short consultations with the internal and external stakeholders working or volunteering in the Big Lake and surrounding areas. In these consultations, there was a stated openness to: collaborating on the Lois Holes Provincial Park Management Plan; planning for a potential Environmental Learning Centre; and sharing information on future transportation, schools, parks or trail amenities.
The success of the Provincial Park, surrounding municipalities and local stakeholders could be greatly enhanced by creating a forum for sharing information, collaborating on projects and current or future planning exercises.
Parkland County can support these efforts by integrating their long term planning with the other stakeholders in the area by coordinating or engaging stakeholders in area planning exercises for the Trails Strategy Plan or other components of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan. Another example, would be participating in regional project focused planning or joint projects in the Big Lake area. Regional projects could include further planning for a new Environmental Learning Centre and/or conceptual planning for a Trail network/system around the entire Park, if the Province were to move forward with them. These types of projects involve all the stakeholders; so therefore, they could enhance benefits to all residents in the all municipalities surrounding Big Lake.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications:
March 8, 2022 Council Notice of Motion
Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (2017)
Financial Impact:
Cost: n/a
Source of Funding: n/a
Other:
As a component of the request for proposal for the Trails Strategy Plan there will be a community engagement and analysis phase in the project planned for the fall of 2022 that can gather further input, trends and direction for future planning and development of trail linkages to the Big Lake area and Lois Hole Provincial Park. One of the geographic focus areas will be the Big Lake area and connections to the surrounding municipalities and parks.