Creating new national urban parks

Parks Canada is working with partners across the country to build a network of national urban parks. The candidate sites identified in 2021 represent the initial stage of this effort, with more sites to be added as the program evolves. 

Process for designating national urban parks

The list below outlines the process for designating national urban parks in Canada, which begins once Parks Canada has signed a Statement of Collaboration with one or more partners in an urban center. The approach to each step is flexible and informed by the local context. Parks Canada and local partners will collaborate to achieve the activities and deliverables together.

Activities, results and deliverables

Feasibility

Activities

  • Create partner committee to guide the designation process, with local governments, Indigenous governments, and other land authorities
  • Co-develop engagement approach with Indigenous partners 
  • Identify the study area for the national urban park 
  • Conduct site-specific studies 
  • Explore considerations for vision, boundary 
  • Conduct initial stakeholder outreach 

Deliverables

  • Partner committee in place, with supporting documentation 
  • Feasibility Report published by Parks Canada (represents Parks Canada’s conclusion that the project is ready to move to the Planning Phase) 

To advance, a candidate site must be deemed feasible as a national urban park, based on alignment with program objectives and sufficient support from local partners 

Planning

Activities 

  • Develop a park vision 
  • Determine roles of partners and management of the national urban park  
  • Refine study area to identify park boundary
  • Begin initial operational planning
  • Conduct stakeholder and public engagement
  • Prepare draft budget and identify priority investments 

Deliverables

  • Summary of public engagement published 
  • Costed priority investments and activities confirmed  
  • Summary of Planning activities completed 

To advance, Parks Canada, land administrators and key partners formally support the outcomes of Planning and agree to proceed to the Designation Phase.

Designation

Activities 

  • Secure implementation and ongoing funding from funding partners (e.g. federal government, other jurisdictions) 
  • Develop interim operational plan based on funding 
  • Complete Designation Agreement 

Deliverables

  • Interim operational plan completed and published 
  • Funding confirmed 
  • Legally-binding Designation Agreement signed to formalize national urban park partnership 

To advance, the national urban park is designated in accordance with the National Urban Parks Policy.  

Implementation

Activities 

  • Final operational preparations for the national urban park
  • Begin operations as a national urban park

Deliverables

  • Post-designation partner committee initiated 
  • Interim operational plan and priority investments implemented 
  • National urban park recognition and branding implemented 
  • Reporting and management planning commenced:
    • Biennial reports on status of Interim Operational Plan implementation 
    • Management Plan at year 5 (Endorsed by partner committee, published every 10 years thereafter) 

Implementation Phase covers the first five years of national urban park operations, leading up to first management plan. 

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