Controversial meters covered up as province dumps parking fees at all parks throughout B.C.

Gary and Frances Thomas haven't been to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park since the province decided to install parking meters in 41 of its more popular parks in 2003 and 2004.

But the senior couple from Nanoose Bay was back walking on the beach Wednesday afternoon after Premier Christy Clark decided to take the controversial meters out of the parks on Tuesday.

Clark said eliminating the parking meters would be a good way to encourage B.C. families to take advantage of the province's "world-class" park system.

Photo: Parking meters were covered with bags at Rathtrevor provincial park on Wednesday.

While Clark conceded that axing the meters would result in a loss of revenue of about $1 million, she said it would not affect B.C. Parks' budget.

The Premier also announced a $500,000 Community Legacy Program as part of B.C. Parks' 100th-anniversary celebrations this year, and community groups can apply for funding of up to $20,000 for projects such as trail enhancement and improved signage.

"We were against it from the beginning so this is our first time back to Rathtrevor park since the meters were installed, even though we used to come here almost every day before that," Gary Thomas said.

"The province's parks belong to the people so we never understood why we had to pay to park here."

The return to free parking in the parks, which also include Englishman River Falls and Little Qualicum Falls provincial parks in the mid-Island region, took effect immediately.

Those that have purchased parking passes for the parks can apply to B.C. Parks for a refund.

While a number of environmental groups state that visitors to B.C.'s parks has dropped by more than 20% since 1999 due to the adoption of a number of unpopular policies, including the parking meters, B.C. Parks claims park attendance has steadily increased across the province since 2004 -- from 18 million to 19.5 million today.

But Cathy Jopp, the office administrator at Rathtrevor Park, said there was a noticeable drop in visitors to the park in the years immediately after the meters were installed.

"However, attendance at the park has grown steadily back to what it was before in recent years, and we expect even more visitors now that the meters are gone," Jopp said.

Gwen Barlee, policy director of the Wilderness Committee, said while the environmental group is happy to see the removal of the "much hated" parking meters, B.C.'s parks have suffered from a decade of decay and require proper funding and staffing.

"What is ironic is that the government cut the B.C. Park budget by $644,000 this year and now they are announcing an investment of $500,000 which still leaves parks further behind," she said.

But the ongoing politics around B.C.'s parks was of little concern for Maureen McKinley, who was visiting Rathtrevor park on Wednesday with a group from Nanaimo.

"I think taking the meters out was a fantastic idea," she said.

"We're just thrilled because we like to do a lot of things outdoors and the meters were cost-prohibitive. We'll certainly be back."