PARKS BRANCH 



RESPONSIBrilTIES AND FUNCTIONS 



Provision, operation and maintenance of provincial parks as public recreational 

 lands with facilities necessary for uses in keeping with the park environments; 



Examination of potential park areas; 



Submission of recommendations regarding potential and proposed provincial 

 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 ex- 

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



Collection, compilation and assessment of provincial park statistics. 



In 1961 a total of 77 provincial parks were open for public use. In addition 

 there were five provincial parks under development and 13 areas reserved for 

 future development. 



Again, an increase in provincial park use was experienced in a 9% visitor 

 increase to 6,215,000 and an increase in the numbers of campers of 23% from 

 592,103 to 862,559. In addition, wilderness campers using canoe routes increas- 

 ed their numbers by 62% to a total of 57,992. 



With the assistance of the Federal /Provincial Unemployment Relief Pro- 

 gramme the development of provincial parks was continued with a total expendi- 

 ture of $1,320,523.03 of which 50% was contributed by the Federal Govern- 

 ment. In addition a total of $1,500,000.00 was available for park development 

 and land purchases. This year, provincial park development included the addi- 

 tion of 43 miles of park roads, 1,266 campsites, 83 acres of picnic area, 88 

 wells, 34 boat docks and launching ramps, more than 400 earth-type toilets, 

 27 change houses and three flush-type comfort stations. Through the facilities 

 of the Department of Reform Institutions 5,400 picnic tables and 4,310 fireplace 

 grills were constructed for provincial park use. 



Complete interpretive programmes of museums, conducted trips, illustrated 

 lectures and labelled trails were continued in Algonquin, Rondeau, Sibley, 

 Presqu'ile and Quetico Provincial Parks. The Sibbald Memorial Museum was 

 again in operation in Sibbald Point Provincial Park as was the Nancy Island 

 Museum at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. The labelled trail at Remi Lake 

 Provincial Park was continued and at Inverhuron Provincial Park an interpretive 

 trail incorporating a new labelling technique was introduced. A programme of 

 conducted trips, outdoor film presentations and a labelled trail was introduced 

 at Pinery Provincial Park by the interpretive staff of Rondeau Provincial Park. 

 The geology exhibit at Craigleith Provincial Park was again displayed. These 

 programmes and interpretive facilities, designed to familiarize visitors with the 

 natural features and /or historical backgrounds of these provincial parks were 

 used, this year, by 399,167 park visitors, an increase over the previous year 

 of 6%. 



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