Abstract: The Parks and Protected Areas dataset contains Parks and Protected Area boundaries for sites administered by the Government of Alberta. National parks, because of their similar intent, are also included. GIS line work representing provincial park/protected area boundaries has been interpreted from written legal descriptions appended to Orders-in-Council granted Royal Assent by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. In case of discrepancy between the GIS data and the written legal description, the written legal description shall take precedence. The Government of Canada is the authoritative source for GIS boundaries of National Parks; National Park boundaries are included herein for reference, only. GIS line work representing National Park boundaries has been interpreted from written legal descriptions within Schedule 1 of the Canada National Parks Act, and adapted to align with the Alberta Provincial Base Features/Foundational Data collection. Defining document is Canada National Parks Act, Statues of Canada 2000, Chapter 32, Assented to 20th October, 2000. In case of discrepancy between the GIS data and the written legal description, the written legal description shall take precedence. Please note that this dataset replaces the following datasets: Ecological Reserve, Heritage Rangeland, National Park, Natural Area, Provincial Park, Provincial Recreation Area, Wilderness Area, Wilderness Park, and Wildland Park.
Metadata:
File identifier:
6B96341F-2E19-4885-98AF-66D12ED4F8DD
Language:
Language Code:
eng
Character set:
Character set code:
utf8
Hierarchy level:
Scope code:
dataset
Metadata author:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Forestry and Parks, Government of Alberta
Position name:
GIS Division, Planning and Strategic Initiatives Section
Contact info:
Contact:
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
9th Floor Oxbridge Place
Delivery point:
9820 - 106 St NW
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T5K 2J6
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
AEP.Parks.GIS@gov.ab.ca
Contact instructions:
Queries about the creation and/or characteristics of the metadata submitted through electronic mail must
include the salutation "Attention: Parks GIS Division; Dataset: Parks and Protected Areas in Alberta"
Role:
Role code:
publisher
Date stamp:
2024-02-08
Metadata standard name:
NAP - Metadata
Metadata standard version:
1.2
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Vector spatial representation:
Topology level:
Topology level code:
geometryOnly
Geometric objects:
Geometric objects:
Geometric object type:
Geometric object type code:
composite
Geometric object count:
469
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Reference system:
Reference system identifier:
RS Identifier:
Code:
3400
Code Space:
EPSG
Version:
6.11(9.3.0.0)
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Data identification:
Citation:
Citation:
Title:
Parks and Protected Areas of Alberta
Date:
Date:
Date:
2015-12-09
Date type:
Date type code:
creation
Date:
Date:
Date:
2024-01-24
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Date:
Date:
Date:
2024-01-24
Date type:
Date type code:
revision
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Forestry and Parks, Government of Alberta
Position name:
GIS Division, Planning and Strategic Initiatives Section
Contact info:
Contact:
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
9th Floor Oxbridge Place
Delivery point:
9820 - 106 St NW
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T5K 2J6
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
AEP.Parks.GIS@gov.ab.ca
Contact instructions:
Queries about the creation and/or characteristics of the data set submitted through electronic
mail must include the salutation "Attention: Parks GIS Division; Dataset: Parks and Protected
Areas in Alberta"
Role:
Role code:
originator
Abstract:
The Parks and Protected Areas dataset contains Parks and Protected Area boundaries for sites administered by
the Government of Alberta. National parks, because of their similar intent, are also included. GIS line work
representing provincial park/protected area boundaries has been interpreted from written legal descriptions
appended to Orders-in-Council granted Royal Assent by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. In case of
discrepancy between the GIS data and the written legal description, the written legal description shall take
precedence. The Government of Canada is the authoritative source for GIS boundaries of National Parks;
National Park boundaries are included herein for reference, only. GIS line work representing National Park
boundaries has been interpreted from written legal descriptions within Schedule 1 of the Canada National
Parks Act, and adapted to align with the Alberta Provincial Base Features/Foundational Data collection.
Defining document is Canada National Parks Act, Statues of Canada 2000, Chapter 32, Assented to 20th
October, 2000. In case of discrepancy between the GIS data and the written legal description, the written
legal description shall take precedence. Please note that this dataset replaces the following datasets:
Ecological Reserve, Heritage Rangeland, National Park, Natural Area, Provincial Park, Provincial Recreation
Area, Wilderness Area, Wilderness Park, and Wildland Park.
Purpose:
This dataset provides users with GIS ready polygonal representation of all the Parks and Protected Areas in
the province of Alberta, and is suitable for indexing or analysis purposes. It is provided for use for
Government of Alberta staff and the general public.
Status:
Progress code:
completed
Point of contact:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Forestry and Parks, Government of Alberta
Position name:
GIS Division, Planning and Strategic Initiatives Section
Contact info:
Contact:
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
9th Floor Oxbridge Place
Delivery point:
9820 - 106 St. NW
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T5K 2J6
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
AEP.Parks.GIS@gov.ab.ca
Contact instructions:
Queries about the creation and/or characteristics of the dataset submitted through electronic mail
must include the salutation "Attention: Parks GIS Division; Dataset: Parks and Protected Areas in
Alberta"
Role:
Role code:
pointOfContact
Resource maintenance:
Maintenance information:
Maintenance and update frequency:
Maintenance frequency code:
asNeeded
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
Alberta, Canada
Type:
Keyword type code:
place
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
Ecological reserve
Keyword:
National park
Keyword:
Natural area
Keyword:
Provincial recreation area
Keyword:
Parks
Keyword:
Provincial park
Keyword:
Wilderness area
Keyword:
Protected area
Keyword:
Wildland park
Keyword:
Wilderness park
Keyword:
Heritage rangeland
Type:
Keyword type code:
theme
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Use limitation:
Distribution Liability: Under the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta, the Information is
licensed as is, and the Information Provider excludes all representations, warranties, obligations, and
liabilities, whether express or implied, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Information
Provider is not liable for any errors or omissions in the Information, and will not under any
circumstances be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, or other loss,
injury or damage caused by its use or otherwise arising in connection with this licence or the
Information, even if specifically advised of the possibility of such loss, injury or damage.
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Use constraints:
Restriction code:
license
Other constraints:
Your use of this information will be governed by the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta, in
force as of the date you accessed the information, found at https://open.alberta.ca/licence
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Access constraints:
Restriction code:
otherRestrictions
Other constraints:
To access the data you must agree to the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta found at
https://open.alberta.ca/licence
Resource constraints:
Security constraints:
Classification:
Classification code:
unclassified
User note:
Public/Unrestricted
Classification system:
Government of Alberta Data and Information Security Classification
Handling description:
https://imtpolicy.sp.alberta.ca/standards/Pages/Data-and-Information-Security-Classification.aspx
Spatial representation type:
Spatial representation type code:
vector
Language:
Language Code:
eng
Character set:
Character set code:
utf8
Topic category:
Topic category code:
society
Topic category:
Topic category code:
environment
Topic category:
Topic category code:
boundaries
Environment description:
Esri ArcGIS 13.0.3.36057
Extent:
Extent:
Geographic element:
Geographic bounding box:
Extent type code:
true
West bound longitude:
-120.889865
East bound longitude:
-108.54708
South bound latitude:
48.897309
North bound latitude:
60.025349
Extent:
Extent:
Geographic element:
Geographic bounding box:
Extent type code:
true
West bound longitude:
-120.902026
East bound longitude:
-108.533775
South bound latitude:
48.897309
North bound latitude:
60.094015
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Distribution:
Distribution format:
Format:
Name:
Keyhole Markup Language
Version:
3.0
Specification:
KMZ
File decompression technique:
ZIP
Distributor:
Distributor:
Distributor contact:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Forestry and Parks, Government of Alberta
Position name:
GIS Division, Planning and Strategic Initiatives Section
Contact info:
Contact:
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
9th Floor Oxbridge Place
Delivery point:
9820 - 106 St. NW
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T5K 2J6
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
AEP.Parks.GIS@gov.ab.ca
Contact instructions:
Queries about the distribution of the dataset submitted through electronic mail must include the
salutation "Attention: Parks GIS Division; Dataset: Parks and Protected Areas in Alberta".
Role:
Role code:
distributor
Transfer options:
Digital transfer options:
Units of distribution:
MB
Transfer size:
2
Online:
Online Resource:
Linkage:
URL:
https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/6492787/protected-area-kmz-outline.zip
Protocol:
HTTPS
Name:
Parks and Protected Areas in Alberta (KMZ)
Description:
KMZ file containing Parks and Protected Areas in Alberta dataset (ZIP)
Function:
Online function code:
download
Transfer options:
Digital transfer options:
Online:
Online Resource:
Linkage:
URL:
https://geospatial.alberta.ca/titan/rest/services/boundary/parks_protected_areas_alberta/FeatureServer
Protocol:
REST
Name:
boundary/parks_protected_areas_alberta (FeatureServer)
Description:
REST Feature Layer for Parks and Protected Areas of Alberta dataset
Function:
Online function code:
webService
Transfer options:
Digital transfer options:
Online:
Online Resource:
Linkage:
URL:
https://geospatial.alberta.ca/titan/rest/services/boundary/parks_protected_areas_alberta/MapServer
Protocol:
REST
Name:
boundary/parks_protected_areas_alberta (MapServer)
Description:
REST Map Image Layer for Parks and Protected Areas of Alberta dataset
Function:
Online function code:
webService
Transfer options:
Digital transfer options:
Online:
Online Resource:
Linkage:
URL:
https://geospatial.alberta.ca/titan/services/boundary/parks_protected_areas_alberta/MapServer/WMSServer
Protocol:
WMS
Name:
boundary/parks_protected_areas_alberta/MapServer/WMSServer
Description:
WMS Service for Parks and Protected Areas of Alberta dataset
Function:
Online function code:
webMapService
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Data quality:
Scope:
Scope:
Hierarchy level:
Scope code:
dataset
Lineage:
Lineage:
Statement:
Order-in Council legal descriptions are interpreted. For most sites, a boundary based on the legal was
created in MicroStation using 1:20K mapping files from Informatics Branch, Alberta Environment and
Parks. The MicroStation derived boundary was then brought into ARC/INFO and incorporated in the
Protected Areas data set. For newer sites, boundaries have been created solely in ARC/INFO or ArcGIS,
using Base Features data from Provincial Geospatial Centre. Data are now maintained exclusively in an
SDE Geodatabase. Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report: In general +/- 5m where a protected area
boundary follows ATS or hydrography. Accuracy can decrease to +/- 20m where protected area boundaries
follow features which have been updated from IRS imagery. The dates for the data sources used for this
resource vary. Please contact AEP.Parks.GIS@gov.ab.ca if you have addition questions about the history
of this data set.
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Minor edits to line work: Athabasca Dunes ER, Prairie Coulees NA.
Rationale:
Topological integrity, best representation of Order-in-Council legal land description.
Date and time:
2019-09-26T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Modification of IUCN category for various sites.
Rationale:
Part of ongoing protected area site-based review/reporting processes.
Date and time:
2020-01-27T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
"Prairie Coulees Natural Area" renamed to "Hargrave Coulees Natural Area"
Rationale:
Order-in-Council 374/2020, December 2, 2020
Date and time:
2020-12-03T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Modification of IUCN category for various sites.
Rationale:
Part of ongoing protected area site-based review/reporting processes.
Date and time:
2020-12-03T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Edited polygon for Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada, to exclude boundaries of Thebathi and ?EJeré
K'elni Kue First Nations.
Rationale:
Best representation of legal description, as found in National Parks Act.
Date and time:
2021-05-04T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Edited line work of Cold Lake Provincial Park in SE11 T65 R2 W4 to follow the shoreline of Cold Lake
as per Base Mapping hydrography polygons.
Rationale:
Best representation of Order-in-Council legal land description.
Date and time:
2021-09-24T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Modification of IUCN category for various sites.
Rationale:
Part of ongoing protected area site-based review/reporting processes.
Date and time:
2021-11-30T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Expansion of Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland.
Rationale:
Order-in-Council 6/2022, dated January 26, 2022.
Date and time:
2022-01-31T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Expansion of Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park.
Rationale:
Order-in-Council 78/2022, dated March 25, 2022.
Date and time:
2022-03-28T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Minor adjustments to polygon line work of Spray Valley Provincial Park and Bow Valley Provincial Park.
Rationale:
Topological integrity of shared GIS boundaries with Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, as per O.C.
78/2022, dated March 25, 2022.
Date and time:
2022-03-28T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Revision of polygon for Smoky River South PRA to account for bridge re-alignment along highway 40.
Acres/Hectares fields revised accordingly.
Rationale:
Best representation of Order-in-Council legal land description.
Date and time:
2022-07-08T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Various attribute table cleanups: Readability of OC_NO field for Glenbow Ranch PP, Lois Hole
Centennial PP, Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland; Readability of NOTES field for Marshybank ER; Correction
to DATE_EST for Elbow-Sheep Wildland; Cleanup of Schedule number in OC_NO field for Bearberry
Prairie NA, Modeste Creek NA, Matthews Crossing NA.
Rationale:
Cleanups of attribute table for readability, sorting ability, correctness.
Date and time:
2022-07-08T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Designation of Big Island Provincial Park.
Rationale:
Order-in-Council 32/2023, dated February 16, 2023.
Date and time:
2023-02-16T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Modification of IUCN category for various sites.
Rationale:
Part of ongoing protected area site-based review/reporting processes.
Date and time:
2023-02-21T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Edits to line work of Garner Lake Provincial Park, Rumsey Natural Area.
Rationale:
Best representation of Order-in-Council legal land description.
Date and time:
2023-02-21T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Minor topological edits to line work of Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland, Bellis North Natural Area;
correction of type-o in Notes field for Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.
Rationale:
Topological integrity of polygons; clarity of attribute information.
Date and time:
2023-02-21T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Designation of Kleskun Hills Provincial Park, La Biche River Provincial Recreation Area. Boundary
amendments to Bleriot Ferry Provincial Recreation Area, Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park,
Peaceful Valley Provincial Recreation Area. Attribute changes to Egg Island Ecological Reserve,
pertaining to re-designation to correct error in legal description (no change to spatial data).
Deregulation of 11 Provincial Recreation Areas. Big Elbow Provincial Recreation Area was not
represented spatially in this dataset prior to deregulation, due to being entirely overlapped by Don
Getty Wildland.
Rationale:
Orders-in-Council: OC 5/2024, OC 6/2024, OC 7/2024, OC 8/2024, OC 9/2024, OC 10/2024, OC 11/2024, OC
12/2024, OC 13/2024, all dated January 24, 2024.
Date and time:
2024-01-24T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Updated IUCN Category of Big Island Provincial Park.
Rationale:
Part of ongoing protected area site-based review/reporting processes.
Date and time:
2024-01-24T00:00:00
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Maintenance information:
Maintenance and update frequency:
Maintenance frequency code:
asNeeded
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