Parkland County Trails Strategy Plan
We’re here to help facilitate the development of the 2023 Trails Strategy Plan.
Notices
Survey #2 is now closed. Come back to this page to learn what we've heard so far.
EDS Group Inc. is a professional planning firm and is currently working with Parkland County to develop the 2023 Trails Strategy Plan. This is an exciting opportunity for us to develop a strategy to build on our trails system and involve residents as we plan for the next 20 years. Public engagement is a very important part of developing this plan. Between now and the spring of 2023 there will be a number of opportunities to get us your feedback. ANYONE who uses trails should be engaged in this project. Whether you use the trails to cross-country ski, horseback ride, cycle, run, walk, use off-highway vehicles or rollerblade - we want your input! Attend an open house, complete the survey, or reach out to us directly because we want to hear from you!
The goal of the Trails Strategy Plan is to provide long term direction to trail development and creating an integrated trail network for County residents and visitors to the region. The plan will focus on an integrated countywide trail network that clearly outlines direction for the next 20 years, with a more detailed focus on the next 5-10 years.
Project Summary
The demand for trail development in Canada, Alberta and Parkland County is increasing. Recent studies by Statistics Canada, the Province of Alberta, River Valley Alliance and most recently with our own Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan have all identified trail related activities such as walking and hiking as some of the most popular types of activities.
Trail use offers a wide range of benefits to trail users, communities, government and the environment. These benefits can include:
- Improved physical and mental health and related reduced health care costs;
- Increased awareness of the environment;
- Social interaction and increased sense of community;
- An alternative method of transportation; and
- Overall Enjoyment.
In addition, Wilderness Redefined defines 12 scientific benefits of being outdoors that relate to physical health, mental well-being and life longevity. Recent studies found that many Americans spend up to 93% of their time indoors. Parkland County and other rural residents will be more inclined to utilize the parks, trails and outdoor spaces if they are easily accessible.
Parkland County’s recently completed Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP) found that non-motorized trails, motorized trails, cross country ski trails and equestrian trails were indicated as priorities for outdoor development. The PRCMP recommends that the County expand the amount of non-motorized trails on an opportunity basis. Guidelines and trail development standards were also created for when this development on an opportunity basis does occur. In addition, the PRCMP outlines some of the long range goals and high level trails network objectives that need to be in alignment with the new Trails Strategy Plan.
The County faces different challenges than its urban neighbors in developing trail systems due to the vast geography and with the wide distribution of population in the County. Immense potential exists with a substantial inventory of County owned reserves; potential destinations hubs such as existing parks and hamlets; the River Valleys; historical features; and existence of potential partners including communities, residents, developers and internal departments.
2022 State of the County
Project Timeline
The initial public and stakeholder engagement is anticipated to be complete by the end of February 2023. The final document will then be finalized in spring 2023 before being brought forward to City Council for endorsement in May.
Phase 1
Analysis & Review
Phase 2
Community Engagement
Phase 3
Key Findings & Strategic Directions and Recommendations
Phase 4
Development of the Trails Strategy Master Plan & Presentation
Engagement
We are excited to give our residents the opportunity to participate in this process! Through the course of this project there will be several engagement opportunities available for residents and local stakeholders to provide their feedback.
Please contact Y Station Communications and Research, our public engagement consultant, with inquiries about any of the sessions or if you’d like to share your feedback via phone at (587) 405-2537.
Secondary Public Open Houses
With the first round of public and stakeholder engagement complete, we are advancing the trails strategy with draft findings and reccomendations. During this second stage of engagement, recommendations will be shared and feedback gathered to further refine the direction of the strategy. See the schedule below for opportunities to participate online or in-person. Continue to the next section to see a map of the upcoming open house locations.
Upon conclusion of the feedback period, we will provide another ‘what we heard’ report that compiles all findings.
- Tuesday March 21st, 2023 (5-7pm): In-person session at Clymont Community Hall;
- Wednesday March 22nd, 2023 (2-4pm): Virtual session via Zoom;
- Wednesday March 22nd, 2023 (6-8pm): Virtual session via Zoom;
- Thursday March 23rd, 2023 (4-6pm): In-person session at Wabamun Jubilee Hall;
- Monday March 27th, 2023 (4-6pm): In-person session at Parkland Village Community Centre; and
- Tuesday March 28th, 2023 (5-7pm): In-person session at Tomahawk AGRA Centre.
Click the link below to sign up for an online session (via Zoom):
Online Survey #1
A crucial step in our engagement process is to conduct a public survey.
The results of this survey will help establish a list of the top priorities for trails across the County, and will also form the foundation of our initial report.
The public survey has now closed. Please see the following section to learn "What We've Heard" through engagement thus far!
Online Survey #2
This survey builds on feedback derived from Online Survey #1 and will inform the development of the draft strategy.
The public survey has now closed. Please come back to this page to learn "What We've Heard" through engagement thus far!
Student Engagement
We believe in empowering youth, and engaging students as plans such as this are developed.
We are committed to completing a targeted in-classroom engagement session with five student groups across the County that focusses on youth.
Initial Public Open Houses
There will be two rounds of public open houses for this project. The initial public open houses included four in-person sessions and two virtual sessions.
Four in person engagement sessions were held across the County, selecting community halls or other public venues that have excellent access by vehicle and are well known to residents. Our virtual sessions included comparable information and allowed people to participate from the comfort of their own offices and homes.
- Tuesday January 31st, 2023 (6-8pm): virtual session;
- Thursday February 2nd, 2023 (5-8pm): In-person session at Parkland County Centre;
- Monday February 6th, 2023 (2-4pm): virtual session;
- Tuesday February 7th, 2023 (4-7pm): In-person session at Fallis Community Hall;
- Monday February 13th, 2023 (4-7pm): In-person session at Muir Lake Community Hall; and
- Thursday February 16th, 2023 (5-8pm): In-person session at Entwistle Community Recreation Centre.
The first round of public open houses have now been completed. Please see the following section to learn "What We've Heard" through engagement thus far! See the schedule of upcoming open houses under the "Secondary Public Open Houses" section, above.
Stakeholder Group Sessions
From November 2022 to February 2023 our team will be involving a number of local stakeholders, adjacent municipalities and development industry partners through a variety of workshop sessions.
Once completed, a summary report will be provided on this website. Please see the following section to learn "What We've Heard" through engagement thus far!
What We've Heard So Far
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1
Secondary Public Open House Locations
The second phase of engagement includes 4 in-person open houses and 2 virtual sessions using Zoom. This map shows the location of the in-person sessions.
2
Clymont Community Hall
51423 AB-60 #1, Spruce Grove, AB T7Y 1C3
In person session:
Tuesday March 21st, 2023 (5-7pm)
3
Wabamun Jubilee Hall
5132 53 Ave, Wabamun, AB T0E 2K0
In-person session:
Thursday March 23rd, 2023 (4-6pm)
4
Parkland Village Community Centre
60 Parkland Gate Rd, Spruce Grove, AB T7X 3N5
In-Person Session:
Monday March 27, 2023 (4-6pm)
5
Tomahawk AGRA Centre
51122 AB-759, Tomahawk, AB T0E 2H0
In-Person Session:
Tuesday March 28, 2023 (5-7pm)
FAQs
Why does Parkland County need a plan like this?
Parkland County’s recently completed Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP) found that non-motorized trails, motorized trails, cross country ski trails and equestrian trails were indicated as priorities for outdoor development. The PRCMP recommends that the County expand the amount of non-motorized trails on an opportunity basis. Guidelines and trail development standards were also created for when this development on an opportunity basis does occur. In addition, the PRCMP outlines some of the long range goals and high level trails network objectives that need to be in alignment with the new Trails Strategy Plan.
Why do we need public engagement?
Through extensive public consultation, the plan will provide community driven recommendations on service delivery, programming, and infrastructure needs. The engagement program will help understand residents’ values and identify ways we can improve as a community. We want to ensure that we are well-positioned to invest wisely as we maintain our existing assets and build on to our current trails network.
How and when can I provide feedback?
How do I sign up for a virtual open house?
It is simple and easy! Simply click this link and register for a session: https://surveygo.ystation.ca/TrailsStrategy
Who should give feedback?
ANYONE who uses trails should be engaged in this project. Whether you use the trails to cross-country ski, horseback ride, cycle, run, walk, use off-highway vehicles or rollerblade - we want your input! Attend an open house, complete the survey, or reach out to us directly because we want to hear from you!
How will my feedback be used?
Your feedback is very important in understanding values of Parkland County residents. These values will help inform the final recommendations regarding how we can improve the existing network of trails in our County. Feedback will also identify strategic partnership opportunities, whereby stakeholders and the County can better collaborate to ensure an ideal network of trails.
When will we see the final plan?
Public and stakeholder engagement is anticipated to be complete by the end of February 2023. The final document will then be finalized in spring of 2023 before being brought forward to City Council for endorsement in May 2023.
Background Documents:
We're Listening
Please provide us with any comments you have and a member of our team will respond when possible.
Project Director:
Cassandra Dell'Aquila | Landscape Architect, EDS Group Inc. | cdellaquila@edsgroup.ca
County Representative:
Suzanne Merrills | Interim Director Parks, Recreation and Culture, Parkland County | suzanne.merrills@parklandcounty.com
Feedback Line:
Please contact Y Station Communications and Research, our public engagement consultant, with inquiries about the sessions or if you’d like to share your feedback via phone at (587) 405-2537.
