Province hopes free parking will attract more visitors, tourism

The much-hated, pay-parking system at all B.C.'s provincial parks has been axed.

Premier Christy Clark said Tuesday that removal of the parking meters, introduced by the Liberals in 2003, will encourage B.C. families to take advantage of the province's "world-class" parks system.

The move to make parking free was met with a mixture of praise and criticism, with one environmental group suggesting proper funding and sufficient staffing were what B.C.'s decaying parks really needed.

"While removal of the parking meters is a step in the right direction, much more needs to be done if the government is serious about protecting our park system," said Gwen Barlee, policy director of the Wilderness Committee.

Barlee said that government documents obtained through freedom of information requests have shown that the parking meters "drove away hundreds of thousands" of visitors and "dramatically missed revenue targets" over the years.

While Clark acknowledged that abolishing the pay-to-park system, which took effect immediately, would result in an estimated $1-million loss of revenue, she said it would not have an effect on B.C. Parks' annual operating budget.

"This isn't a cut to [B.C. Parks] budget -it's all being made up," Clark said at the North Shore's Mt. Seymour, one of the affected parks. "This is not about politics, it's about making sure our parks are accessible."

Getting rid of the parking meters will also attract more visitors, more tourist dollars and create more jobs for rural British Columbians, the premier added.

People who had already paid for an annual parking pass can apply for a refund.

As part of the announcement, Environment Minister Terry Lake unveiled a $500,000 Community Legacy Program as part of B.C. Parks' 100th-anniversary celebrations. The program will allow community groups to apply for funding of up to $20,000 for projects such as trail enhancement, he said.

"It's going to be a birthday gift that keeps on giving," Lake said.

But Barlee said the $500,000 investment was not enough