PARKS BRANCH 



'npHE responsibilities and functions of Parks Branch are as follows: Provision, 

 -■- operation and maintenance of provincial parks as public recreational lands; 



Examination of potential park areas; 



Recommending potential and proposed park areas to the Ontario Parks 

 Integration Board; , 



Production of detailed master plans for provincial parks; 



Development of provincial parks in accordance with the master plans; 



Design and construction of provincial park structures and buildings; 



Establishment, operation and maintenance of interpretive programmes and 

 exhibits in provincial parks of natural and/or historical significance; and 



Collection, compilation and assessment of provincial park statistics. 



In 1963 there were 86 provincial parks totalling 3,696,368 acres open for 

 public use. Of these, seven were maintained without fees being charged. In addition 

 there were 49 areas consisting of 655,384 acres, reserved for future development. 



There were no changes in provincial park fees which consisted of the annual 

 vehicle entry permit of $3.00, the daily vehicle entry permit of fifty cents, the boat 

 entry permit of $5.00 for entry by water into Quetico Provincial Park, and daily 

 campsite permit fee of $1.00. 



Again, an increase in park use was experienced in the 9 per cent visitor 

 increase to 8,526,443. The method of compiling camper statistics for 1963 was 



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