Making Nature More Accessible: Alberta Parks’ Push to Open Nature Program

February 16, 2022

Over the past two years of this seemingly endless roller coaster of the pandemic, one thing has been affirmed: access to the outdoors is essential. Mother Nature offers an antidote to many of the side effects of this pandemic: stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression.

An Ipsos poll published in February 2021 conducted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada determined that 94 per cent of Canadians found nature helped them relieve pandemic-related stress and anxiety. More than 85 per cent confirmed that time spent outdoors had been integral for their mental health.

For Canadians who face hurdles to getting outside, elimination of the barriers continues to be a focus for Alberta Parks. Push to Open Nature, a program launched over 10 years ago, was created to ensure every Albertan has access to the outdoors. The program has continued to expand during the pandemic.

“We’ve wanted to create inclusive experiences for various ages—allowing all Albertans to access nature,” says Graham Brittain, a development planner for the Alberta Government. In 2016, Alberta Parks accessibility audits kicked off the latest plans to increase the accessibility to Alberta’s 473 provincial parks.

A recent addition to the Push to Open Nature program is a partnership with CNIB Frontier Accessibility and the Trans Canada Trail to offer a more inclusive trail experience for those with vision challenges. Visitors can now use Blindsquare, a widely used self-voicing app, to receive detailed information via GPS on three trails across Alberta. The app details the trail’s terrain as well as information about the surrounding flora and nearby facilities like picnic tables or accessible washrooms. “The user can control how much information they want to hear,” explains Brittain.

In 2022, Alberta Parks will expand an existing accessible option with the renovation of William Watson Lodge in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park located near Canmore. With 22 accessible units, the year-round lodge is being updated to meet current accessibility standards, reopening in Summer 2022. “The lodge will also now be accessible with Blindsquare,” explained Brittain. “We’re always looking to increase access to the parks because we believe everyone belongs outside.” The lodge’s location on the east side of Lower Lake includes 20 kilometres of wheelchair-accessible trails, 13 RV sites, picnic sites and a playground.

Originally opened in 1981 by former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed, the lodge’s namesake was the inspiration for its concept to welcome more Albertans with disabilities to feel welcome in the outdoors. William Watson spent his life challenging the stereotype and misconception about the disabled; a birth injury prevented him from being able to use his arms, but didn’t dissuade him from becoming an avid swimmer, skier and lecturer to challenge the attitudes towards the disabled until his death.

Two provincial parks currently have been mapped to offer Blindsquare access. Calgary’s popular Fish Creek Provincial Park features Stream Changes Trail, a 1.29-kilometre loop providing trail conditions via the app as well as including information on Annie’s Café and the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant for pre or post walk snacks. This trail is also part of Trans Canada Trail network.

At Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park located west of Edmonton in St. Albert, the park’s John E. Poole Boardwalk is a 1.27-kilometre loop, surrounded by the Big Lake wetlands. Both trails are also wheelchair-accessible during the summer months.

The Push to Open Nature program encompasses several accessible options including camp sites and facilities, adaptive equipment, golf cart tours and the Cecile Buhl one-kilometre experience.

Buhl was a long-time Alberta Parks volunteer who passed away in 2016 and was a passionate Push to Open Nature ambassador. Buhl regularly audited Alberta Parks for accessibility and barriers, and her dedication to improve accessibility, informed by her own mobility challenges, led to the one-kilometre experiences being named for her.

There are seven one-kilometre experience, each including an accessible trail, washroom(s) and parking. The seven parks featuring the one-kilometre experiences are Pigeon Lake, Fish Creek, Lois Hole, Writing-on-Stone, Bow Valley, Sir Winston Churchill and Lesser Slave Lake provincial parks.

In addition, 24 provincial parks offer accessibility features including accessible campsites such as comfort camping huts, comfort trailers, yurts, tipis or cabins. Three parks offer golf cart tours by volunteers including Fish Creek, Glenbow Ranch and The Peaceful Valley Provincial Recreation Area, which also features two kilometres of wheelchair-accessible trails.

More inclusive adventures:

Hiking with Health Conditions: Accessible Adventure

“Slowly, step by step, with gorgeous views waiting at the top of every climb, I realized how important it is to not restrict nature to local or urban parks for those with mobility and health conditions.”