Recently we took a trip up the Alaska Highway. From North Dakota back to Alaska--a short jaunt --ha, ha. What struck us as the most amazing thing about our trip wasn't the stone sheep, grizzly bear, or caribou we saw--but the British Columbia Park system. What a pleasant surprise! The public playgrounds/picnic areas/benches were the nicest we have ever seen--and we stopped at three different parks there. We also noticed all the workers buzzing about--cleaning the outhouses, emptying recycling bins, etc....The public bathrooms at Laird Hot Springs even had a 4 stall public composting restroom--and no, it did not stink!
So we don't really know what this all means--we stopped in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Yukon as well--and Yukon parks are very nice too--but B.C. just kicks it up a notch. Do they pay more in taxes?? And how about the economy--do park budgets get cut in Canada?? Or do they just value them more?? (We did not even have to pay any day use fees, except for the hot springs).
As someone who seriously appreciates everything a park offers, I am always upset when Alaska or any other state closes parks first due to "budget shortfalls". As if they don't value them at all, nor does the public find them that important.
I haven't really gotten to why the thinking is so different, but it is amazing nevertheless.
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