CLASSES OF PARKS 

 IN ONTARIO 



To meet the broad spectrum of present park requirements 

 and to plan for the future, the Provincial Park system con- 

 tains five different classes or types. Each offers different 

 recreational experiences, and each provides varied facili- 

 ties in keeping with the class purpose. 



• Class I, Primitive Par\<s are large areas of natural landscape 

 preserved for recreation, education and scientific observa- 

 tion. They are reserved from natural resource exploitation 

 and from major facility development such as serviced 

 campgrounds. 



• Class II, Wild River Parks are significant rivers established 

 for recreation, aesthetic or historic purposes. They are pro- 

 tected from the intrusion of incompatible land and water 

 uses. 



• Class III, Natural Environment Parks, landscapes of out- 

 standing aesthetic or historic significance, are established 

 primarily for recreation and education. Other resource uses 

 are permitted providing they do not conflict with recrea- 

 tion. Facilities and services may be limited so as to interfere 

 as little as possible with the environment. Zones further 

 protect special areas. 



• Class IV, Recreation Parks are areas of intensive recrea- 

 tional use in which the environment may be substantially 

 modified to accommodate park users. There are two sub- 

 classes to this class: (1) Recreation Areas, which are day 

 use oriented; and (2) Campgrounds which are camper 

 oriented. These parks contain more fully-serviced facilities. 



• Class V, Nature Reserves are unique natural areas estab- 

 lished for scientific and educational uses. General public 

 enjoyment is permitted if it is not detrimental to the area. 



RECREATION PLANNING 



Work was initiated during 1968-69 on a significant new 

 research and planning program, the Canada Outdoor 

 Recreation Demand Study (CORDS). This study, which is a 

 co-operative project involving the 10 provincial park agen- 

 cies and the Federal Government, aims at achieving a more 

 complete understanding and measurement of outdoor rec- 

 reation demands in Canada to guide investment and man- 

 agement planning, to identify and evaluate policy alterna- 

 tives, and to forecast recreational use of resources as it 

 relates to alternative development proposals. 



During the summer of 1968, with the assistance of Brock 

 University, Waterloo Lutheran University and the University 

 of Western Ontario, the Section carried out an inventory 

 of some 12,000 public and private outdoor recreation 

 facilities in both urban and non-urban areas. The Conserva- 

 tion Authorities Branch of the Department of Energy and 

 Resources Management co-operated in this project. This 

 inventory of outdoor recreation supply is one of the basic 

 inputs to CORDS. In addition, during 1968-69, planning 

 was undertaken for a Park Visitor Survey to be carried out 

 during fiscal year 1969-70 as another element of the CORDS 

 program. 



The CORDS program is also closely integrated with the 

 Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Plan (TORP) program 

 now underway as a co-operative undertaking of several 

 departments — Tourism and Information, Treasury and 

 Economics, Municipal Affairs, Energy and Resources Man- 

 agement, Education, Highways, and Lands and Forests. The 

 purpose of the TORP program is to provide the factual 

 bases, and to formulate alternative plans, for the attain- 

 ment of the social and economic goals defined in Design 

 for Development insofar as they relate to tourism and out- 

 door recreation. 



During 1968-69, work continued on the assessment and 

 evaluation of lands for future provincial park development, 

 and a number of new park reserve areas were established 

 through land acquisition and the setting aside of Crown 

 lands. Particular emphasis is given to the prov/ision of a 

 broad spectrum of park types as conceived under the 

 1967 Ontario Provincial Park classification and park land 

 zoning policy. The goals, development and management 

 guidelines, and activities, for each area, are expressed 

 through the preparation of detailed park master plans. 



PARK PLANNING AND 

 DEVELOPEMENT 



Master Planning was commenced for six Provincial Parks. 

 A Provisional Master Plan for Algonquin Park was published 

 and when Public hearings were held, more than 100 briefs 

 were submitted. The planning process is continuing under 

 the direction of a task force whose responsibility is to assess 

 the briefs and prepare planning guidelines by the end of 

 1969. These guidelines will be in force for the period 

 to 1975. 



Site planning was done for 45 parks and park areas. A 

 program for upgrading park entrance structures was insti- 

 tuted. Development appropriations amounting to $3,665,- 



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