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 Parks are large areas of natural land- 

 scape preserved for recreation, education and scientific 

 observation. They are reserved from natural resource ex- 

 ploitation and from major facility development such as 

 serviced campgrounds. 



• Class II, Wild River Parks are significant rivers estab- 

 lished for recreation, aesthetic or historic purposes. They 

 are protected 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 and representative 

 natural areas established for scientific and educational uses. 

 General public enjoyment is permitted if it is not detri- 

 mental to the area. 



RECREATION PLANNING 



Work was initiated during 1968-69 on a significant new re- 

 search and planning program, the Canada Outdoor Recrea- 

 tion Demand Study (CORDS). This study, which is a co- 

 operative project involving the 10 provincial park agencies 

 and the Federal Government, aims at achieving a more 

 complete understanding and measurement of outdoor 

 recreation demands in Canada to guide investment and 

 management planning, to identify and evaluate policy alter- 

 natives, and to forecast recreational use of resources as it 

 relates to alternative development proposals. 



During the summer of 1968, the Recreation Planning 

 Section carried out an inventory of some 12,000 public and 

 private outdoor recreation facilities in both urban and non- 

 urban areas. The Conservation Authorities Branch of the 

 Department of Energy and Resources Management co- 

 operated in this project which is one of the basic inputs 

 into the CORDS program. During 1969-70, the inventory 



TOTAL ANNUAL VISITORS 

 2,114,661 



3,232,460 



1957 

 1958 

 1959 

 1960 

 1961 

 1962 

 1963 

 1964 

 1965 

 1966 

 1967 

 1968 

 1969 



5,106,352 

 5,692,598 

 6,215,370 



7,820,994 

 8,526,443 

 9,139,975 

 8,875,668 



9,791,671 

 10,155,91 

 9,440,211 



10,459,936 



TOTAL ANNUAL CAMPERS 



Starting in 1963, the number of campers shown on renewal campsite 

 permits were not included in the total camper statistics 



|165,055 

 1 277,183 



479,069 

 592,103 



862,559 



1,063,127 

 840,491 

 916,281 

 902,476 

 994,787 



1,155,091 

 1,119,91 2 

 IHHH 1,360,639 



35 



